Elite delay Lockinge plans
Ten horses were confirmed at the five-day stage for the Group One contest over a mile at Newbury.
“We’ve left them both in and we’ll make a decision on Wednesday or maybe Thursday,” said Elite’s racing manager Matthew Budden.
The participation of Soviet Song, winner of five Group Ones, could hinge on a workout today.
“She might have a spin tomorrow and we’ll just see if that goes well. If James is happy then she will be declared. If he feels she needs a bit more time then she will wait, probably for another week,” said Budden.
“She’s just coming to herself so ideally we could probably have done with another week. She’s improving with every piece of work she does and she’s getting there.”
If Soviet Song is not ready in time for the Lockinge, she could be re-routed to the Curragh for the Group Two Ridgewood Pearl Stakes a week later as connections are keen to get a run into her before Royal Ascot next month, where she holds entries in the Queen Anne Stakes and the Windsor Forest Stakes.
“The Ridgewood Pearl would be a possibility if she did not go to Newbury as there’s not much for her before Royal Ascot. We’d like to get a run into her if we can,” explained Budden.
“If she doesn’t win on Saturday she won’t get a penalty for the Windsor Forest and that would be tempting. It depends how she goes first time.”
Peeress, who had Soviet Song back in third when winning the Windsor Forest at Royal Ascot at York last year, is a possible for Michael Stoute. The Newmarket trainer has also left in Rob Roy.
Roger Charlton’s Mac Love, runner-up to Rakti in this race 12 months ago, has stood his ground.
The acceptors are completed by Common World, Court Masterpiece, Kandidate, Majors Cast and Rocamadour, who was fourth in a Group One in Italy on Sunday.
Last night’s meeting at Windsor was cut short after concerns about the state of the bend forced the last race to be abandoned.
A deputation of jockeys and officials inspected the track before the Monday Night Racing With VCCasino.com Handicap after the riders had expressed some worries about the ground.
