Tuesday 1 July 2014 13:08, UK
Royal Ascot hero Telescope remains firmly on course for a tilt at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 26.
The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned colt was hugely impressive when powering to a seven-length success in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes last month and Stoute is planning a swift return to the Berkshire circuit for the four-year-old.
The 10-time champion trainer said: "We are hoping to take him to the King George - that is the next plan for him.
"It wasn't a vintage Hardwicke, but it was the way he won it - I think that entitles us to have a crack at the King George. We don't know who is turning up but that that will be a big test for him.
"The BHA handicapper has given him his highest rating yet (123), so that was a good performance in the Hardwicke.
"We would be happy with how he has come out of Ascot. He has not been doing anything serious since - he has just been chilling. But we've got a long time now - four weeks from last Saturday."
The sizzling Ascot success was Telescope's second at Group Two level and suggested he can fulfil all the expectations triggered by a maiden success at Newmarket as a juvenile.
Stoute said: "He is a horse who has had a lot of criticism because he was very, very built up having just won a maiden as a two-year-old. Last year he had a setback but he has never been out of the two, this fellow."
However, Stoute did give a firm hint that the son of Galileo is at his best when racing on fast ground
Earlier in the season, he was well beaten on two occasions by Noble Mission in the Gordon Richards Stakes and the Huxley Stakes on more testing terrain.
He said: "I ran him in heavy ground at Sandown and shouldn't have run him at Chester because his action is not the same in that sort of ground. He labours in it."
