The conditions will be completely different from last month's 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh but Nightime can still emerge best in what has turned into a potentially epic Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot today.
In addition to Dermot Weld's classic heroine, there is also the Newmarket Guineas winner Speciosa as well as Price Tag who looked unlucky to be thrown out of first place in the French Guineas.
Throw in the Group One winners Flashy Wings, Donna Blini, Nannina and Silca's Sister and this looks as competitive a heat as any big-field handicap that will be run this week.
However, it is possible to examine it a little closer and make a convincing argument for Nightime adding to Weld's previous Coronation winner Sutton Place in 1978.
Anyone prepared to dismiss that wide-margin Curragh victory as purely down to the very soft ground conditions will find no agreement from Weld who is convinced Nightime's action will be suited to much quicker conditions. Significantly, he also believes there is better to come from the filly his mother Margeurite bred and still owns.
Whether the same can be said about the others is debatable and there will be plenty willing to bet that Speciosa's chance has been seriously compromised already with a bad draw in stall one.
For a filly who has already indicated her habit of drifting left under pressure it could hardly be a worse draw, or a worse course, and there is also the question of how much that Oaks run has taken out of her.
Price Tag is something of an unknown quantity but there are lines of form that suggest she will be a serious player. She appeals more than many of the home team although Flashy Wings, last year's Queen Mary winner, is an interesting prospect now she is back on fast ground.
Aidan O'Brien runs Hawk Wing's sister Race For The Stars in the Coronation and will also fly the Irish flag on his own in two other races including the King Edward VII Stakes. Magicalmysterytour appears to be the Ballydoyle selection in this and the colt faces a major task in a Group Two event considering he only won his maiden at Leopardstown earlier in the month.
Significant improvement will be needed for O'Brien's horse but the Coolmore syndicate still looks to have a major chance with Papal Bull who can successfully bounce back from an unlucky run in the Derby.
O'Brien's other runner is Road To Mandalay in the Queen Vase and another big hike in performance will be needed for this Navan maiden winner who comes up against some hardened handicap performers.
Hardest of the lot to beat could be Galient who has a couple of wins on fast ground at Chester and Newmarket to his credit.
Brian O'Connor's tips: 2.35: Bicoastal; 3.10: Papal Bull; 3.50: Nightime; 4.25: Grand Passion; 4.55: Galient (Nap); 5.30: Pearly King.
