William Buick believes the best is yet to come from Nathaniel who has been added to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday at a cost of STG75,000 ($A113,964).
John Gosden’s colt was an impressive winner over the same course and distance in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot after finishing second to subsequent Irish Derby victor Treasure Beach in the Chester Vase.
Having skipped the Derby on account of fast ground, and also the Grand Prix de Paris last week, connections have taken the bold step to run him against older horses.
And the test could not be much sterner as last year’s Derby and Arc winner Workforce, Coronation Cup scorer St Nicholas Abbey and Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor Rewilding are all set to run in a potential seven-runner ensemble.
“It’s a fantastic race and when Workforce is at his best which he showed in the Arc, he’s obviously a very good horse,” Buick told At The Races.
“But I think Nathaniel is improving and we certainly haven’t seen the best of him yet. If he gets his conditions, he’s a horse who definitely deserves his place in the race.
“The ground was a bit quick for him at Chester and the track didn’t suit but that race made a man of him and really did him good.
“He grew up a lot mentally and it turned out to be a good race.
“It was an obvious move. Mr Gosden was happy to supplement him and so were the owners. I’m just pleased to be on the horse.”
Sir Michael Stoute’s yard is now in much better form, which will give Workforce’s fans new hope after he was narrowly defeated by So You Think in the Eclipse.
Rewilding, on the other hand, wore down So You Think over 10 furlongs (2000m) in the Prince of Wales’s, and is expected to be even better still over a mile and a half (2400m).
St Nicholas Abbey has returned to his brilliant best this season and defeated Midday by a length at Epsom, with Henry Cecil’s multiple Group One-winning filly another possible this weekend.
However, it is unlikely she will run if Workforce lines up as they are in the same ownership.
PA AAP TURF
