“I’d be disappointed if she’s not dining at the top table at some point later in the year”

George Scott has pinpointed the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on the Friday of Newmarket's July Cup meeting as the next logical step for Staya following her effort in the Queen Mary Stakes.

An impressive winner over five furlongs on debut at Yarmouth, George Scott's filly proved she was more than capable of mixing it with the best when a highly-creditable fifth behind Aidan O'Brien's True Love in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Carrying the colours of KHK Racing, who enjoyed a profitable week at the Royal meeting, Staya now looks set to step up to six furlongs, with the Newmarket Group 2 firmly in Scott's sights.

"Staya ran great," said Scott. "I'm still learning about her, she definitely won't run five furlongs next time out, she'll be going six.

"She's a filly that to me looks like six is going to be much more her bag.

"She's not really a jump and run filly, she likes to drop her head and find a nice rhythm.

"I thought she ran great from a lowish draw at Ascot. I really think she's a proper filly, I probably believe more in her than other people do, I'm really looking forward to seeing how the rest of her season pans out to be honest.

"She'll start by going to Newmarket for the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, the Group 2 at the July meeting."

On plans beyond her Newmarket assignment, an excited Scott believes the daughter of super-sire Havana Grey will be kept busy for the remainder of the season.

"She'll go there and then we'll take a view. I'd expect her to be kept busy because she's very very tough.

"She's come out of her race particularly well so whatever she does, she'll be kept busy.

"I don't really have a longer-term plan because at this stage I don't really know if she's a Group 1 filly or not. I don't want to go and talk about Group 1 races for yet, but I'd be disappointed if she's not dining at the top table at some point later in the year."