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Trainer Robert Cowell is planning to run all three of his entries in the G1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot including last year's winner Prohibit.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Newmarket trainer conceded that Prohibit may now have his best days behind him but is clearly excited about the future of his Italian recruit Spirit Quartz.
Prohibit was only seventh to Wizz Kid in last weekend's Prix du Gros-Chene.
Cowell said: "It's possible he's not as good as he was. We have to accept that, but he's very good at Ascot and never out of the top three.
"I hope he'll run a good race but he's seven and might find one or two too good."
Spirit Quartz was third to Bated Breath in the Temple Stakes and was just edged out on a return to Haydock last week by Excelette.
"Spirit Quartz is a horse I do rate, I rated him the second he came to me," Cowell said.
"I've been training him specifically to stay at five furlongs and he's a very, very underrated horse who could produce anything in the King's Stand.
"He has a very high cruising speed. I've not had him long but he will relish a stiff five and a fast pace."
The third member of his team is Monsieur Joe.
"I knew he was flat when he ran in the Temple Stakes. He's been freshened up and will take part in the King's Stand." Cowell said.
Another of his runners at the Royal meeting will be Lui Rei, who won at Epsom on Derby Day.
"He was brilliant at Epsom and gelding him over the winter helped enormously," Cowell said.
"He's in the Wokingham and that's the plan. I wanted to stretch him out to six furlongs and I think the race he'll run best in will be the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood."