Excelebration may start an ambitious second half to the season away from his nemesis Frankel in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood on August 27.
A trip to Hong Kong could be on the cards after that, but the German 2000 Guineas winner is currently enjoying a well-earned holiday after finishing third to Frankel in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
That was the second time Excelebration had been placed behind Sir Henry Cecil’s unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner, having been runner-up to him in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
“He looks in good order. We’re just giving him a break for a couple of months and then we’ll work towards the second part of the season,” trainer Marco Botti told At The Races.
“We could start back in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. That could be an option and then we’ll see.
“Maybe towards the end of the season we might take him to Hong Kong, or somewhere else abroad, but at the moment we haven’t decided.
“Definitely I think he’s a Group One horse. Obviously last time was a good run behind Frankel. We all know how good he is, so we have to be pleased with our horse.
“When you finish close to Frankel you have to say you can find a Group One somewhere. Next time we will try to avoid him.”
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