Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who ran second in the G1 Pretty Polly S., will point to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet in France on Aug. 20, trainer Hughie Morrison revealed on Friday.
Owned by Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib, the 4-year-old filly won the G3 Legacy Cup S. at Newbury last autumn prior to an unplaced run in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot to end her year. She was fifth to Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton Fillies' S. at York in May. Connections appealed her Pretty Polly placing, as she was hampered by the winner, Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), but that appeal was denied.
Morrison said, “Ideally, I would go to France for the Romanet, over a mile and a quarter. “The [G1] Yorkshire Oaks is afterwards [on Aug. 24] and we can go there if we were not happy with something going to France. The Yorkshire Oaks is Plan B.”
Another Morrison runner to excel recently is Wednesday evening's G3 Grand Prix de Vichy heroine One For Bobby (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). However, the trainer will be keeping his 4-year-old stars separated, if possible.
“If we can keep them apart we will,” said Morrison. “One goes better on softer ground and one is better on faster ground, but they both go on good ground.
“Actually, One For Bobby is in a Group 1 in Munich on Sunday week [Grosser Dallmayr-Preis], because we were keeping our options open. If it was in three weeks after that [run], I would probably be going to Munich.
“I haven't had a long chat to the owner yet, but prior to having won a group race, [we felt] a Group 1 place would be at least as good as a Group 2 win, so be brave and aim high.
“I think Munich is unlikely, but we'll keep options open. You could go for the [G1] Prix Vermeille [at ParisLongchamp in September] and it might suit her, a mile and a half in France, we'll see.”
Multiple group winner Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will contest the G1 Goodwood Cup next in the colours of Lady Blyth. A winner of three group races in 2022, the 6-year-old gelding was back to winning ways in the Listed Race To The Ebor Grand Cup S. last month.
“We were going to go to France, but the owners want to have a go at the Goodwood Cup, so that's where we're going,” said Morrison.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
