Palace target for Rowe Park

Rowe Park, who showed tremendous improvement in 2007, will kick off his sprinting campaign in the Stan James 08000 383384 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday.

Trained by Linda Jewell, the gelding went from winning off a mark of 65 on the all-weather at Southwell in February to scoring in Group Three company in September.

Jewell is now keen to kick on with her stable star, who cost just 1,200 guineas at the sales, but is aware he could be in for a trickier season.

“We are hoping to run him at Newmarket but he’ll find it tough as he started at the bottom last season and then improved rapidly,” explained the Maidstone trainer.

“Starting off at Group Three level will be tough but he is in good form, although he hasn’t peaked fully just yet.

“You’d like to think he could improve again and we have no option but to pitch him at this level as he’s too high in the weights for handicaps and will be heavily penalised in Listed races.

“The owners are keen to have a go and he has obviously proved himself so he has every right to be there and we are looking forward to it.

“The owners are keen to run at Royal Ascot – he’s entered there (in the King’s Stand Stakes) – and they have a lot to look forward to.”