Three-time Group 1 winner Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was on Tuesday named the winner of the Cartier Older Horse award, will have the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot as his key early season target next year, trainer Jean-Claude Rouget told At The Races. The bay is likely to have a prep run in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan.
“Physically, he's a marvelous horse,” Rouget told At The Races. “I had Literato, who won the [G1] Champion S. a few years ago, but he was a small horse and he didn't win three Group 1s like him. He's very highly rated and is a champion.”
“I hope the winter will be OK and the preparation, too,” Rouget added. “The first target is the Prince of Wales's in Ascot with a prep race maybe in the Prix d'Ispahan. After that, we'll see if we go to the Arc with a prep race. We don't know, it's too early to say.”
Cartier Sprint champion Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who won this year's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, is expected to target the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at the same meeting in 2017. Cartier 2-year-old filly winner Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), who shipped from America to win the G2 Queen Mary S. at the Royal meeting as well as the G1 Prix Morny, is likely to return to Europe next year after finishing third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. in September.
“I'm sorry she lost her last race but I'm excited for her in 2017,” co-owner George Bolton told At The Races. “What we are doing is sitting down in December and we're going to have a plan, probably half Europe, half U.S. and she'll be ready.”
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