French training sensation Rouget ready for Ascot assault
Having won the French 1000 Guineas, Derby and Oaks already this season, the Pau-based handler saddles the improving grey in a Group One event that promises to be one of the highlights of the week.
He said of the Prix d’Ispahan winner: “He is running at Ascot as the French racing programme doesn’t have any races after the Ispahan for Group One winners, specialised over the intermediate distances.
“The Prix Jacques le Marois is after all a race for milers and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud demands a lot of stamina and is run at a date and on a course that have never inspired me.
“The horse is very well. All I hope is that the ground is not going to be too fast and that there will be some decent pace in the race.”
His rider Christophe Lemaire is in bullish mood. “He is a very easy ride and he has a big chance. He’s in excellent condition and is improving with each race he runs,” said the jockey.
“He won very well in the Prix d’Ispahan and I’m sure he is getting better and better and also more mature. I’m very keen on his chances.
The Eric Libaud-trained Vision D’Etat also hails from France and having registered his second Group One success in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp back in April, connections are hoping for the best.
“The horse is in good form and has travelled over very well,” said Libaud.
“He’s won on good ground before and he has won over 10 furlongs as well. It’s a very tough race but the horse is in very good form and he has been prepared for this race.”
Connections of Tartan Bearer are confident the Spectrum colt can break his duck at the highest level.
Sir Michael Stoute’s charge was just half a length behind New Approach in last year’s Derby at Epsom before finishing an unlucky third in the Irish equivalent.
He made a winning reappearance at Sandown and after missing last month’s Tattersalls Gold Cup due to testing conditions, Peter Reynolds, racing manager to owners Ballymacoll Stud, is hoping compensation awaits.
“It was unfortunate he couldn’t run at the Curragh but with the way the ground was, we just couldn’t risk him,” said Reynolds.
“He’s adaptable regarding trip as he has finished second in the Derby and ran well enough at the Curragh with interference, but 10 furlongs is the trip the trainer wants to run him at and we’ll try that for the moment.”
Virtual comes into the race in search of back-to-back Group One successes having won a thrilling renewal of the Lockinge at Newbury.
The Cheveley Park-owned colt is stepping up to a mile and quarter for the first time and while the stud’s managing director Chris Richardson feels that will bring out the best in the son of Pivotal, he has real concerns about fast conditions.
“I think the trip will suit him but I am a bit concerned about the ground. I would have liked the rain that was forecast,” said Richardson.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes: Cashmans bet - 7/4 Tartan Bearer, 3 Vision D'etat, 7/2 Never On Sunday, 10 Twice Over, Virtual, 12 Tazeez, 16 Trincot, 100 Estejo
