Egerton waiting with Art Deco

Charles Egerton fears Royal Ascot may come too soon for Art Deco following his good run in the French Derby.

The Dee Stakes winner was a close fourth to Darsi at Chantilly on Sunday and the Newbury trainer is to wait at least a week before committing his colt to another outing.

The King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting remains a possible target but Egerton has the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on July 14 and the German Derby in Hamburg on July 23 as other options.

“He’s run a decent race in France,” Egerton told At The Races. “He’s finished his race which has pleased me. He hit a flat spot which as a result he had to pull wide of the winner and it has probably cost us second.

“I think he has improved and I’ve no worries about stepping him up to a mile and a half.

“The ground was quite fast on Sunday. It was drying out all the time. It was good to firm, firm in places although they was a lovely covering (of grass).

“Ascot depends on the weather but I know they’ll water well. I’m going to see how he is. There’s every chance it might come too soon. His other alternatives are the German Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris.

“I’d like to give him another run against his own age group.

“I’ve got no plans at the moment. I’ll see how he is over the next 10 days.”