Teal says conditions are set fair for Ocean Wind to take on Stradivarius at Ascot
Roger Teal is keen to have another crack at Stradivarius with Ocean Wind after getting within a length of the great stayer in the Sagaro Stakes.
The pair will meet again in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next month, with Teal weighing up whether or not Ocean Wind will run in Sandown's Henry II Stakes first.
Given the Sagaro Stakes was only the five-year-old's seventh run on the flat, te al believes his charge is still improving - especially as the form of his first run of the season at Nottingham was also given a hefty boost at the weekend.
"We were very pleased with him at as cot, it was very encouraging and he just doesn't know how to disappoint," said Teal.
"The only time he is ever run over further than two miles was when he won the Cesarewitch Trial easily, so the extra distance in the Gold Cup will definitely suit him.
"It was pleasing to see the winner from Nottingham( Sir Ron Priestley) come out and win so well at Newmarket as well - he looks a very good horse. It just goes to show Nottingham was a proper race.
"The Ascot form looks rock solid. Obviously everyone knows Stradivarius, but the third had won the race last year on the all-weather and the three of them were a long way clear.
"Stradivarius did pinch us up slightly, which made us check our run and come round. I'm not saying we'd have beaten him, but we might have finished closer. We're definitely looking forward to taking him on again anyway, we've had the practice run and now we'll have a real crack at him!
"Stradivarius is Stradivarius, we're under no illusions how good he is, but I do think going up in trip will suit us and it was encouraging to run him to a length. My fellow is still learning his trade, but we're getting there. There is a possibility of him going to Sandown before As cot, but he' ll tell us if he needs to go."
Meanwhile, William Muir was delighted with Pyledriver’s seasonal reappearance on Saturday and will run his stable star next in the Coronation Cup at Epsom next month.
The Lambourn trainer expects the four-year-old to be “perfect” for the group one over the Derby course and distance on june 4 after he blew away the cobwebs with a highly-encouraging effort in the Jockey Club Stakes.
Muir felt Pyledriver tired in the closing stages but ran a big race nevertheless in running the race-fit Sir Ron Priestley to two and quarter lengths in the Group Two at Newmarket.
“He’s come out of his race really well. His legs are grand, he’s trotted well, he’s eaten his food, he’s fine,” he said. “He was probably just shy of match fitnessand that left him a bit fresh. I did that on purpose as this race wasn’t the first and foremost. My main objective is to win Group Ones with him this year.
“The ground was very quick and, getting tired that last bit, he just rolled around, but he’s come out of it well. That will settle him.
“We’ve finished second in a Group Two and we’re in great shape. He goes straight to Epsom now for the Coronation. Win, lose or draw, he was always going to go there. He will be perfect come Epsom. There will be no excuses there and there were no excuses on Saturday. Sir Ron Priestley was better than we were. Pyledriver had a little light canter on Monday. We’re very pleased and it’s onwards and upwards.”