Carlton House Moves to Mile

Connections of Carlton House are hopeful that dropping The Queen's colt back to a mile at Ascot on Saturday could lead to bigger and better things.

The four-year-old has proved himself over middle distances with wins in the Dante Stakes and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes as well being placed in the Investec Derby.

He posted another creditable performance when chasing home So You Think in the Prince of Wales's Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Royal Ascot.

However, Sir Michael Stoute's charge has been showing so much speed on the Newmarket gallops that they are giving him the chance to demonstrate it in a race when he lines-up for the Transformers & Rectifiers Summer Mile.

It is the first time he has competed at that distance since his two-year-old days but should he impress in this Group Two, it would open up a whole new programme.

Major races as the Prix Jacques le Marois, the Prix du Moulin and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes have already been mentioned as possible targets later in the year.

"He's in very good form and Ryan Moore has ridden him in all his starts and I think he's very optimistic this mile will suit him very well," The Queen's racing manager John Warren toldAt The Races.

"We're still on a learning mission but when he was second to So You Think at Royal Ascot, he gave it a good rattle just over one out and looked very dangerous then and I think he should run a very big race.

"Ryan Moore has been very consistent with what Sir Michael Stoute sees on the gallops in the morning.

"They have always felt this horse has tremendous speed and it's very exciting if he can be brought back to a mile and it would open up a few more avenues for him.

"Anything between a mile to a mile and a quarter is obviously going to suit well and there would be some nice things to look forward to if he was a genuine miler. We have options in France over a mile.

"There's the Prix Jacques le Marois first in August, then we've got the Prix du Moulin in the beginning of September and the QEII at Ascot in October, so he's got lots of options open to him.

"In his two races so far this year he was somewhat free-going and the pace over a mile will suit him all the better to help him settle into that rhythm and we'll learn a lot.

"He's fairly clear on the ratings on Saturday but on the day that means nothing when you are going over a different trip.

"I wouldn't be too fussed about the ground. When he won his maiden by half the track at Newbury as a two-year-old that was very soft ground so we're not particularly bothered about it."

Andrew Balding has expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by Tullius since he took over the handling of the Le Vie Dei Colori gelding when Peter Winkworth retired.

The four-year-old has won all his three starts for the Kingsclere trainer and has successfully graduated from handicaps to Listed company.

This race presents his biggest test to date, but Balding has been encouraged by the horse's home work.

"He worked really well on Wednesday morning and I couldn't be happier with him," he said.

"He's improving and seems to have improved all the time. The way he worked would suggest he's better than he's ever been.

"The slightly bigger field than he had at York will probably suit him better and we're looking forward to it."

Richard Hannon is expecting Cai Shen to be competitive especially after two good recent efforts in the Royal Hunt Cup and the Listed Gala Stakes.

"He ran a blinder from a bad draw in the Hunt Cup, but he will be just as happy on the round course, and he ran really well to finish third to Afsare at Sandown last time," the Herridge trainer told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.

"We were wrong at the weights with the first two in that Listed race, yet Hughesie (Richard Hughes) came stands side and they had the principals worried for a while.

"They are talking of the Arlington Million for the winner, so it is good form, though obviously Carlton House is going to be hard to beat."

Hughie Morrison admits pitching Pastoral Player over a mile is "a bit of an experiment".

The five-year-old is a Group three winner over seven furlongs and took a valuable handicap over that distance at this track last October, but he has yet to travel as far as this.

"We're having a go at a mile with him," said the East Ilsley trainer.

"When he's won over seven furlongs, he's looked like he would get a mile, but it doesn't work like that. It's a bit of an experiment."