OLLIE Sangster’s Simmering, third in the 1000 Guineas, takes on some of the top three-year-old US turf fillies and mares in the $800,000 Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana at Keeneland tonight.

A dual group race winner last year at two, Simmering is winless in five starts this year and was third in a French Group 3 last time out at Deauville.

With heavy rain in Lexington this week, the Keeneland turf course should have a bit of give which could be a plus for Simmering, who will be ridden by Luis Saez.

A victory Saturday would give Sangster a first triumph in a Grade/Group 1 race.

The Brad Cox-trained Fionn brings top form, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes where she beat another top three-year-old in Nitrogen, and also won the Grade 3 Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational Stakes here last month. Flavien Prat retains the mount on Fionn.

Graham Motion’s Laurelin, an Irish-bred filly by Zarak, is unbeaten and poses a danger. Her win in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes came with a late turn of foot.

On their form against Opulent Restraint and Candy Quest, Laurelin and Fionn will be pretty evenly matched but the Motion filly’s strong final finish could see her on top and remain unbeaten.