Ascot beckons after Green Moon romp

Harry Dunlop is looking forward to running Green Moon at Royal Ascot after the progressive colt completed a hat-trick in great style at Newmarket.

The King Edward VII Stakes and the Hampton Court Stakes are the obvious possibilities for the son of Montjeu who successfully negotiated another step up the ladder on Saturday.

After wins in a Leicester maiden and a Newbury handicap, he landed the Listed Fairway Stakes by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Red Badge at Headquarters.

“He’s come out of the race very well, he trotted out sound this morning and seems in good order,” said the Lambourn trainer.

“Royal Ascot is very much under consideration. He’s in the King Edward already and we might also put him in the Hampton Court, a Listed race over a mile-and-a -quarter.

“We’ll work out other options for him as well. He had to win well yesterday if we were to consider things like that, so we were thrilled.

“I think he will get a mile-and-a-half. He’s by Montjeu, though there is some speed on his dam’s side, but I don’t see why he won’t stay.

“You can switch him off and take your time with him. He’s not a complicated ride.”

Dunlop reported Three Moons was unsuited by the rain-softened ground when she finished tailed off last in the Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock.

“She’s fine, but unfortunately the ground went really soft and she hated it,” he added.

“It was a bit frustrating having declared on good to firm. Soft and heavy ground is not ideal. We thought she might handle it but she didn’t.

“The jockey looked after her when she wouldn’t go a yard on it.

“We’ll probably try for another Listed race with her, but I’ve nothing specific in mind at the moment. The main thing is we will go where there is some fast ground.”