Course specialist Mick set to swerve Ascot

Young Mick is likely to bid for a second Group Three victory on October 21 in the Stan James St Simon Stakes at Newbury.

Trainer George Margarson has all but ruled out the four-year-old running on Saturday at Ascot, where he is unbeaten in four races this season.

The Newmarket handler feels this weekend’s Ladbrokes Stakes (Handicap) may come too soon after Young Mick continued his remarkable improvement by opening his Pattern-race account in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot eight days ago.

“He won’t be running on Saturday. He goes for the St Simon Stakes at Newbury as long as the ground’s okay,” said Margarson.

“I put him in at Ascot to see what else was in there and what the handicapper does to him.

“I also want to see how he is, but I think he’s going to need another week to get him back before he really sparkles again.

“The aim at the moment is to go for the St Simon Stakes as long as he’s still fine and the ground is good or better. The track at Newbury should suit him.

“He was a little bit quiet like he was after the Ebor, but then all of a sudden he can perk up and he could be bucking, squealing and rearing up in a couple of days.

“I think the ground was too sticky for him at Ascot last time and that takes more out of him.

“He’s just starting to come back. I took him out on Sunday and he was just starting to feel his feet again. He cantered today and he’ll be out again tomorrow.

“He’s never left an oat and he’s the same weight he was, but this is a funny time of year. Their coats can go at any time.”