Oakey is International possible

Dame Judi Dench’s Group-winning colt Smokey Oakey is still under consideration for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 19.

Trainer Mark Tompkins is only likely to go down that route if ground conditions are easy enough on the Knavesmire but could still be tempted to enter for the Group One event.

The four-year-old’s owner has usually been too busy with acting commitments to watch him race in a thoroughly productive season, which has yielded wins in both the Lincoln and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.

“Smokey Oakey is very well and I was going to run him at York the other day but the ground was too fast,” said Tompkins.

“I’m going to see Dame Judi tomorrow and we will have a talk about things, but we might have to throw him in at the deep end now.

“There is a race at Deauville and he’s still in the International.

“That race can cut up to five or six runners and they could get a deluge of rain there. We might run if it is soft ground.”