Oxted Camp Eyes Diamond Jubilee

Roger Teal is leaning towards making the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday week the next target for his progressive sprinter Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}). The Lambourn handler favours keeping his new stable star at six furlongs for his first venture into Group 1 company rather than dropping him back to the minimum trip for the G1 King's Stand S. earlier in the meeting. Having signed off last season with victory in the Portland H. at Doncaster, the 4-year-old made a winning return with an impressive victory in the G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket on Friday.

Teal said, “I think the Diamond Jubilee will be his race unless that race has really woke him up at home. If we go to the King's Stand S. you have got to take on Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and although I think I have a beast, he is a real beast. The way he finished off at Newmarket he will come on for the run and I think the six furlongs is the more sensible route to go.

“It is a stiffer six at Ascot, but he has won over seven so I don't see that being a problem. We've not got to make a final decision yet, we just have to see how he is.”

A step up in trip at the Royal meeting appears to be on the cards for GSW Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie {Jpn}), who lost his unbeaten record when paying the price for a slow start in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Saturday.

Teal said, “He just missed the beat and was getting a bit over excited in the stalls and I don't know if he anticipated the gate opening, but he just fly-leaped out and stumbled badly. Our game was over quickly and you can't give away ground like that in a race of that quality.

“We wanted to go to the Derby, but with not having a race or finding out much on the day I'd say we will possibly go for one of the races at Royal Ascot as there are a few options. There is the G1 St James's Palace S., but I think I will step him up in trip for either the [G3] Hampton Court or the [G2] King Edward VII S., but I will speak to the owner first.”