Robert Mills is hoping to run three horses at next week's Royal meeting with Saturday's winner Monterey spearheading his challenge.
Quick return on the cards for Newmarket winner
Monterey could be set for a quick return to action in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting on Tuesday following his success at Newmarket on Saturday.
Surrey based handler Robert Mills had hoped that the lightly-raced gelding would score at Salisbury on his seasonal debut to book his place in the marathon handicap, but he was let down by inexperience.
He could only finish third behind Kangaroo Court that day but showed the benefit of that outing to score in decent style at Headquarters.
"The idea was to try to win at Salisbury so he'd get in at Ascot, but he just veered and ran away from the other horses. He was very green and inexperienced," said Mills.
"As that didn't go to plan we had to run him on Saturday with a view to getting his rating up. He duly obliged, the only downside was that it was very close to Royal Ascot.
"He's in on the Tuesday in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap, so we'll see how he is and if he's OK we go."
Long-Distance
Mills is looking to run Petara Bay in the long-distance race that closes the meeting on Saturday week, the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
"He's still on target for the Queen Alexandra at the moment. We've got some work to do at the weekend," said Mills.
"Providing he comes through that OK we are still heading that way.
"If for any reason that was to change he's still in the Northumberland Plate.
"We are trying very hard to get him to Ascot as it looks he'll get his ground."
Another horse facing a crucial workout is Ewell Place ahead of a possible tilt at the Jersey Stakes on Wednesday.
"Like everywhere the weather has been atrocious. He's a got a final piece of work at the weekend," said Mills.
"We'd have liked to have had a prep run but it's been stop-start with the horse.
"If he comes through the weekend OK we're more than likely to go."
