The 2022 Bet365 Empress Stakes champion had been a leading contender to defend her title but was withdrawn in-season from her intended engagement in the sixth trial stakes and the breeding paddocks of owners and breeders David and Nicola Firmager is the plan for the dual British Bred Derby and British Bred Oaks winner – a real champion of the track.

Janssens said: “First off I want to pay tribute to Lucy, who’s been an absolute star for us – and the Firmagers, of course. She will always be one of the best bitches I’ve ever put a lead on – perhaps even number one – and we cannot have asked much more of her. She dominated the British-bred competitions but also won the Empress Stakes at Towcester, ran well in the Derby there, and made an Oaks final at Perry Barr.

“We also took her across to Shelbourne Park and won a race with her at their Winter Festival against some of Ireland’s best – again, that makes her extra special.”

Fabulous Azurra had set the fastest time in the heats of the Empress Stakes 12 months ago and kennelmate Charming Girl matched that feat on Sunday as the May 2021 daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Affleck Courage paced up well for a 4.15sec sectional on her way to a three and three-quarter lengths clear of Cashen Eliza (Mark Wallis) and Moments Of Magic (Kevin Hutton) in 29.12sec (normal).

Of Charming Girl, Janssens added: “We’ve always thought a lot of her – I’d say she’s a top-class bitch in the making – and knew she was capable of doing that sort of run. She didn’t really take to Romford when we put over 575m there but it might have helped her. She actually came from Holland and wouldn’t have seen an outside hare over there – so you’d expect her to continue to improve.”

Irish Oaks champion Crafty Shivoo made it four wins from five starts in the UK for Mark Wallis when winning the the sixth trial stakes in which Fabulous Azurra was a non-runner.

Pacing up well to lead, the October 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose raced away to win by eight and three-quarter lengths from kennelmate Rapid Lady and Kilara Coco (Nathan Hunt) in a fast 29.15sec (normal).

The victory completed a double for Wallis after Fabulous Sonique also won well for the champion trainer as the July 2021 daughter of Magical Bale and Fabulous Pearl dominated throughout for a five and a quarter lengths success from Whitings New Era (Nathan Hunt) and Newinn Touch, another Wallis runner, in a slick 29.18sec (normal).

Richie Taberner’s Nomadic Magic kicked off the trial stakes with an all-the-way victory in 29.56sec (normal) as the Monmore handler’s August 2021 daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Some Girl Isla led at the first bend for a one and a quarter lengths win over Minnie Bullet (Mark Wallis) and Antigua Bingo (Nathan Hunt).

The remaining trial stakes went to Kevin Hutton’s Mystical Megan (29.63sec), as the March 2020 daughter of Droopys Jet and Mystical Moll edged out Pepinthestep (Mark Wallis) and Oh Cosmopolitan (John Mullins), and Kim Billingham’s Beatties Sparkle (29.50sec), who came again to beat Coppice Zaya (Kevin Hutton) and Fabulous Dyna (Laurence Tuffin) – the April 2021 daughter of Soul and Love Island winning by just over four lengths.