Carlton team keen on Ascot chance

Saturday 21 July 2012

Connections of Carlton House believe dropping The Queen's colt back to a mile at Ascot today could lead to bigger and better things.

The four-year-old has proved himself smart at middle-distances, with wins in the Dante Stakes and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, as well being placed in the Investec Derby. He put in another creditable performance when runner-up to So You Think in the Prince of Wales's Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Royal Ascot.

However, Sir Michael Stoute's charge has been showing so much speed on the Newmarket gallops that he is given the chance to demonstrate it in a race when he lines up for the Transformers & Rectifiers Summer Mile.

"He's in very good form and Ryan Moore has ridden him in all his starts and I think he's very optimistic this mile will suit him very well," The Queen's racing manager John Warren said.

"We're still on a learning mission but when he was second to So You Think at Royal Ascot, he gave it a good rattle just over one out and looked very dangerous then and I think he should run a very big race. Ryan has been very consistent with what Sir Michael Stoute sees on the gallops.

"They have always felt this horse has tremendous speed and it's very exciting if he can be brought back to a mile and it would open up a few more avenues for him.

"Anything between a mile to a mile and a quarter is obviously going to suit well and there would be some nice things to look forward to if he was a genuine miler.

"We have options in France over a mile. There's the Prix Jacques le Marois first in August, then we've got the Prix du Moulin in the beginning of September and the QEII at Ascot in October, so he's got lots of options open to him.

"In his two races so far this year he was somewhat free-going and the pace over a mile will suit him all the better to help him settle into that rhythm and we'll learn a lot. He's fairly clear on the ratings on Saturday but on the day that means nothing when you are going over a different trip.

"I wouldn't be too fussed about the ground. When he won his maiden by half the track at Newbury as a two-year-old that was very soft ground so we're not particularly bothered about it."