Connections of Excelebration will not rush into a decision over whether to tackle Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot next month.
Marco Botti’s three-year-old has twice been beaten by Sir Henry Cecil’s champion colt this season, but Excelebration continues on the upgrade.
After a brace of Group Two wins in the German 2000 Guineas and the Hungerford Stakes, he landed a deserved first success at the highest level in the Prix du Moulin on unsuitably soft ground at Longchamp on Sunday.
“I think his two options at this stage are Ascot and the Breeders’ Cup. We are not in a hurry to make a decision. There is plenty of time. We will see how the horse trains in the next couple of weeks,” Botti told At The Races.
“He got back this morning in good order and we’re happy with him, but there is no reason to decide right now. Close to the time we can make a decision with the ground situation and talk to the owners and come up with a plan.
“Taking in both Ascot and the Breeders’ Cup would be unlikely, but it will be something I will discuss with them.
“He has improved since the spring and is a much stronger horse now.
“He is definitely improving all the time but Ascot would be a tough task to take on Frankel again, but he is up to that level.
“Excelebration is definitely going the right way and yesterday against older horses he did well on that ground.
“It’s exciting to take him on if that is what we will do.
“Usually the ground at Ascot is really good and we might get away with the ground there.”
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