Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) could get another chance to bid for G1 Gold Cup glory at Royal Ascot in June. Charlie Fellowes's 7-year-old finished eighth in the 2 1/2-mile feature in 2017, but has since developed into a globetrotter of the highest order. Prince Of Arran has been placed in the last two renewals of the G1 Melbourne Cup and finished third over a 1 7/8 miles at the Saudi Cup meeting in February last out. He was then due to run in the Dubai Gold Cup, but after making the trip, the World Cup card was cancelled and Prince Of Arran returned to Newmarket where Fellowes is preparing him in the hope of Royal Ascot going ahead as planned.
He said, “He's actually looking a bit fat, so he needs to do some work. He went to Dubai, stayed for six days and came back so relaxed he'd put on weight, which is unusual. The season will revolve around a return to Australia–if we can get there. He doesn't really run all that well in England, apart from at Ascot and Kempton.
“He ran well in the Sagaro S. a couple of years ago and then he travelled really nicely in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, so much so we thought he might be placed. He just didn't quite stay that day, but he was only a 4-year-old at that point and when he was in Saudi Arabia, James [Doyle, jockey] did say he thought he'd stay a bit further now.
“We could have a look at the Gold Cup, if Royal Ascot goes ahead–he's not going to win it, but he could run a big race. Then there's the [G3] September S. at Kempton before hopefully going back to Australia.”
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