Tariq books Ascot ticket

Tariq confirmed his Royal Ascot presence next week after working in Newmarket on Tuesday morning alongside fellow hopeful Aeroplane.

The pair are both trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam and owned by Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, who all combined for Derby success with Authorized a year ago.

Tariq will be the leading contender and is vying for second favouritism in next Wednesday’s Queen Anne Stakes behind the market leader Creachadoir, who beat him a length in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes.

The Kyllachy colt already has a Royal Ascot win to his name in last year’s Jersey Stakes and went on to land the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

Tariq was ridden by Adrian McCarthy on the Short Gallop and was led by Aeroplane and John Lowe in a seven-furlong spin.

Tony Nerses, the owners’ racing manager, said: “It went very well and Tariq will certainly go for the Queen Anne as long as everything goes OK up to next week.

“We were very happy and we feel he has improved a little bit since his run at Newbury.”

Aeroplane, now a five-year-old, has not yet built on the promise he showed in 2006 but fared a little better when third in a Listed race at Haydock last month.

Nerses continued: “He went well with Tariq and is a possibility for the Golden Jubilee Stakes on the Saturday.”

They are likely to be the owners’ only two runners of the meeting, with Nerses ruling out Sharp Nephew – not seen since early April – from the St James’s Palace Stakes.