"Having always been particularly fond of good fillies and since Marling reminded me so much of her wonderful dam, Marwell, I decided to paint her. I wanted to do something a bit different so I chose a portrait format for the picture (i.e. vertical) as opposed to the more usual landscape shape. It was a glorious day when she won at Royal Ascot, defeating Culture Vulture in a wonderful race for the Coronation Stakes. I wanted to suggest the atmosphere of Royal Ascot but without overstating it.

Thus Marling is depicted with her jockey Walter Swinburn entering the winner's enclosure. The shade from the tree, the distinctive wrought iron gates and the people in the background seemed to create a natural amphitheatre which suggested the title since Marling is centred in a pool of sunlight in the foreground - a natural star."