Richard Hannon has firmed up his plans for Future Champions Day at Newmarket a week on Saturday with Harbour Watch set to go for the Middle Park Stakes leaving Bronterre to tackle the Dewhurst Stakes.
Both colts are unbeaten with Harbour Watch currently heading the betting for next year’s 2000 Guineas.
Hannon has been deliberating over whether to keep Harbour Watch to the six furlongs (1200m) of the Middle Park or step him up to seven (1400m) for the Dewhurst.
However, the decision of Bronterre’s owner Michael Pescod to chase Group One glory rather than the money of a Sales race helped him reach a decision.
“Obviously we want to keep the two horses apart, so I hope that Harbour Watch will go for the Middle Park,” Hannon said.
“It would be good to give him experience of Newmarket and he is a good horse who has never put a foot wrong and done nothing but improve physically through the summer.
“I told Michael Pescod, Bronterre’s owner, that he had to choose between the money and the glory – and it looks like he is going to go for the glory.
“Bronterre would be high up in the pecking order of our two-year-olds and he deserves a crack at the Dewhurst.
“I expect Aidan O’Brien will send a few over for that race, but we have been very happy with our fellow since Goodwood and, while it will be a big jump up in class, he has earned his promotion.
“We have had another great season and are close on STG3 million ($A4.81 million) in prize money, with 96 two-year-old winners alone.
“But there is still a lot of cash on the table through October and, while it would mean a lot to retain the trainers’ title, we know that we have work to do yet and winning either of the Sales races this weekend or the Dewhurst or Middle Park would certainly help our cause,” he told his website.
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