Differing form lines from Royal Ascot take center stage in the Group Three Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (1.45pm) at Ascot on Saturday, a six-furlong contest for two-year-old fillies that frequently identifies emerging sprint talent for the rest of the season.

Alta Regina is a filly that demands attention. The Wathnan-owned recruit finished sixth in the Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal meeting, where she was seen doing her best work late under James McDonald, flying home to suggest that an extra furlong would suit her well. The form of that race has since been franked in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, making her one of the strongest contenders in the field. Jamie Spencer, renowned for his mastery of Ascot's straight course, takes the mount — he previously guided her to victory on debut. She is the selection for a Win and Place bet with World Pool.

She can also be combined with two other fillies who ran well at the Royal meeting in a World Pool Quinella (selecting the first two fillies in any order), including the Hamad Al Jehani-owned entry.

Dee's Funny Girl is an intriguing runner making her debut for the Donnacha O'Brien stable. The Cotai Glory filly made a winning start over five furlongs at Thirsk in May for trainer Michael Keady. Sold for £150,000 following that performance, she was far from disgraced when sent off at a big price for the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Having raced in the front rank throughout, she was outpaced a furlong from home before staying on to the line to finish sixth behind a group of high-quality fillies. With a trainer upgrade and a return to standard racing grade, she shapes as the principal danger to Alta Regina.

Dark Issue finished ahead of Dee's Funny Girl in the Albany, staying on strongly into fourth, and will be tough to keep out of the frame once again.

The closing five-furlong handicap (5.20pm) presents a difficult puzzle, but it is worth forgiving King of Light his disappointing effort at Ascot last time out. He reared as the stalls opened and missed the break entirely, so his previous form offers a more reliable guide. He narrowly missed the frame in the Epsom Dash on Derby Day but then made no mistake at Windsor, winning with something in hand to post a career-best performance. He has been in good form this season, will not be inconvenienced by fast ground, and could go well if reproducing his Windsor run. He is the selection for a Win and Place bet with World Pool.

For a Quinella combination with the potential for a substantial payout, the consistent Pilgrim and the Oisin Murphy-ridden Emperor Spirit — beaten a half-length or less on each of his last two outings — are worth including.

Saturday Pointers

• Alta Regina (Win and Place) — 1.45pm Ascot
• Alta Regina, Dee's Funny Girl, Dark Issue (Quinella) — 1.45pm Ascot
• King Of Light (Win and Place) — 5.20pm Ascot
• King Of Light, Pilgrim, Emperor Spirit (Quinella) — 5.20pm Ascot