Sandown option for Sir Percy
Last year’s Vodafone Derby hero finished a creditable fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba on his reappearance and trainer Marcus Tregoning has his sights set on the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting.
While Tregoning has not totally ruled out a tilt at the Coronation Cup for his star four-year-old, the Lambourn handler believes the timing of Sandown’s 10-furlong race on May 31 could be more suitable.
He said: “The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is obviously on Sir Percy’s agenda and he might well go to Sandown beforehand as I feel that would be a suitable place to start him.
“It comes three weeks before Royal Ascot and I feel he would love the rising ground at the finish.”
Reflecting on Sir Percy’s run in Dubai, Tregoning added: “The Sheema Classic attracted a top-class field and I think the winner (Vengeance Of Rain) is a very good horse.
“Sir Percy came there with every chance and with hindsight could have finished a bit closer.
“It was a very rough race early on. He got struck into a couple of times, but at the end he was possibly not quite sharp enough.
“What spoiled it for us was that three weeks beforehand we had some coughing in the yard and although he kept away from it and coped, I wasn’t able to give him as much work as I wanted to. On reflection he needed one more bit of work.”
Tregoning is hoping lightning can strike for a second time this term as he believes maiden Aqaleem can develop into an Epsom contender.
The Sinndar colt, owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, was placed in both of his starts last term and Tregoning pinpoints him as one to follow this year.
He said: “Aqaleem ran very well in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Stakes and looks a good prospect.
“The way things are looking, I might have to run him in a trial first time out.”
Basaata holds an entry in the Stan James 1000 Guineas, but the daughter of Dixieland Band may be some way off a run.
