Awtaad set for Royal Ascot
Tuesday 7 June 2016 10:03, UK
Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Awtaad is on course to further advertise his championship credentials in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next week.
The once-beaten Cape Cross colt brought the house down at the Curragh last month as he gave octogenarian trainer Kevin Prendergast a second Irish Guineas, some 40 years after his first with Northern Treasure.
In doing so, Chris Hayes' mount had Newmarket Guineas winner Galileo Gold in second, and while conditions may be slightly different for the eagerly-awaited rematch, Prendergast is not losing sleep over the likely Berkshire terrain.
He said: "Awtaad runs in the St James's Palace.
"He doesn't need cut in the ground and I'm happy with him."
As well as the English and Irish Guineas winners, a third Classic scorer is likely to line up, with Aidan O'Brien aiming impressive French Guineas victor The Gurkha at the one-mile showpiece next Tuesday.
