Gold plan for Boreas

The Gold Cup at Ascot has been nominated as a preliminary target for progressive stayer Boreas next season.

Trainer Luca Cumani revealed the seven-year-old’s season will be aimed towards a run in the two and a half mile, Group One event at the Royal meeting after he finished second to Persian Punch in the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket.

The Bedford Lodge trainer paid tribute to the In The Wings gelding’s durability, saying: “I have never trained a horse of Boreas’ age who has retained such a high level of form and I am looking forward to him staying in training next year.

“His principal target next season will be the Gold Cup.”

Boreas has gone on from an initial fourth behind Zindabad in the John Porter Stakes to back to back wins in the Lonsdale Stakes at York and the Doncaster Cup last time.

At Doncaster, veteran stayer Persian Punch just failed to hold off Boreas’ finishing kick and Cumani believes the pair will certainly meet again next season.

“When we won at Doncaster I sort of felt like we had spoiled the party a bit for Persian Punch so I am pleased in a way that he has made it one all now,” Cumani explained.

“I imagine it won’t be the last time they meet and hopefully we can put the scores back in our favour next time.”