To be successful in two classic races is, for most thoroughbreds, about as good as it gets. They are trained for the moment, the job is done and all that remains for the animal's people is to collect the trinkets associated with success and soak up the adulation.
Everyone connected with Cockney Rebel are probably still pinching themselves after their boy won 2000 Guineas at both Newmarket and the Curragh. However, according to trainer Geoff Huffer, there is more to come. Much more.
The word now is that Cockney Rebel, for whom someone, somewhere is reportedly ready to hand over £10m to have him, produced another sparkling piece of work on the Cambridge Road polytrack in Newmarket and it is now onward and upward to the extent that Huffer thinks the colt could even cope with a slow pace in the St James's Palace Stakes on Tuesday, the opening day of Royal Ascot next week.
"He worked brilliantly, and in the last furlong skipped 15 lengths clear of his regular lead horse Banjo Patterson," said Huffer. "He does like it quick, but if it's good ground, that wouldn't worry me. His time at Newmarket was the third-best ever and if they dawdle at Ascot, it won't faze him."
Cockney Rebel will face a maximum of 10 rivals if he goes in the St James's Palace, but if he is to be successful, he will have to fend off a five-strong attack by Aidan O'Brien. The Irish trainer could be represented by Astronomer Royal, the French 2000 Guineas winner, Excellent Art, an unlucky fourth in that race, Duke Of Marmalade, fourth in the English and Irish Guineas, Archipenko, winner of the Derrinstown Derby Trial, and recent Cork winner Sorolla. It could be quite a race.
On the subject of O'Brien, George Washington, one of his stable stars, will face a maximum of eight rivals on his eagerly-awaited return to the track in the Queen Anne Stakes, also on Tuesday.
The colt missed the glamour meeting last year due to injury, and Ascot racegoers thought their chance of seeing him in action had disappeared when he was whisked off to stud following a brave effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic. However, the four-year-old had a fertility problem in the mating shed, and his racing career has been resurrected, to the delight of O'Brien.
There will be plenty of interest in Australia - despite it being the middle of the night - when their quartet of runners, Takeover Target, Bentley Biscuit, Magnus and Miss Andretti are stuffed into the stalls prior to the King's Stand Stakes, the sprint highlight on Ascot's first afternoon. Miss Andretti heads the market for the five-furlong event ahead of Takeover Target, successful in the Group 2 12 months ago.
The home defence is led by Dandy Nicholls' Tax Free, who is at the top of his game and beat Dandy Man and Prix de l'Abbaye winner Desert Lord at Naas on his last start. All three are set to clash again.
Having said all of that, it is interesting to note that the French trainer, Robert Collet, has decided to supplement recent Prix de Gros-Chene winner Beauty Is Truth.
As regards juveniles, Fanatical is set to be stepped up in class at the royal shindig having impressed when taking a six-furlong maiden at Newbury on Saturday.
"She has taken her Newbury race well," said trainer Ed Vaughan. "I couldn't have been happier with her performance there. It was a very accomplished debut. I will make an entry for her in the Queen Mary and Albany Stakes with our preference, at this stage, being the latter option." Queen Anne Stakes 5-4 George Washington, 9-2 Cesare, Ramonti, 5-1 Red Evie, 12-1 Jeremy, 14-1 Racinger, 25-1 Turtle Bowl, 33-1 Notability, 50-1 Dark Islander.
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