Trainer Andrew Balding is looking to step impressive Queen's Vase winner Dashing Willoughby up in trip and class for a crack at the Qatar Goodwood Cup.
Based in Kingsclere, Balding has the preference of running the son of Nathaniel over two miles for the first time in the Group One highlight at Glorious Goodwood later this month over the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket a week Wednesday.
The three-year-old scored for the first time since winning on debut back in August at Wolverhampton, having been caught a shade unlucky at both Chester and Newbury earlier this season.
(Credit: AtTheRaces) Balding said: “Dashing Willoughby has got an entry in the Goodwood Cup and one in the Princess of Wales’s.
“I’m sure he would stay two miles, and the three-year-olds get a healthy weight-for-age allowance, which makes the Goodwood Cup quite attractive.
“You are taking on the best stayers – but given the prize money, I would think that is the most likely option.
“He certainly handles ground with ease in it well, but I would think over two miles quicker ground wouldn’t be a problem.”
Dashing Willoughby's stablemate Beat The Bank will try to go one better than in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting, when he returns to the Berkshire track for the King George festival to defend his crown in the Group Two Summer Mile.
The five-year-old was not the only horse to bounce back from a poor run in the Lockinge - as Lord Glitters; thirteenth and last but one at Newbury, got the better of the King Power-owned gelding in the day one opener two weeks ago.
Balding added: “Beat The Bank will probably go back for the Summer Mile, then on to the Sussex Stakes. He seems in good form.
“He won the Summer Mile last year – so he will have to carry a penalty – but as long as he is in good form, that is where we will go.
“He has run well in the Sussex Stakes before, so it seems silly not to go back there afterwards.
"There are lots of options over a mile and a quarter for him after that.”
Balding's other Royal Ascot winner Cleonte - who struck in the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes race on the Saturday, looks set to line up in this weekend's Coral Marathon at Sandown Park Racecourse.