3 minute read

William Haggas has identified the Hardwicke Stakes as the target for last year’s King George V Stakes victor Desert Hero.

It was a historic first success at Royal Ascot for the King and the Queen as Desert Hero took the King George V Handicap Stakes under Tom Marquand and the colt continued to please connections throughout the season with a win at Glorious Goodwood and a third in the St Leger.

Whilst a tilt at the Melbourne Cup had been identified as a possibility, Haggas chose to swerve any international trips and remains solely focused on a return to Ascot initially.

"He's done really well and I'm really pleased with him," said Haggas.

"We cut (gelded) him over the winter and took the view he was unlikely to make a stallion, or a stallion that would be popular for anyone, and that he still had plenty of mileage as a racehorse. I think he will be better for being gelded and hopefully he will have a good season.

"He will have a run or two, probably only a run, and it would be very much the Hardwicke. It would be lovely to go back to Ascot with a chance for him."

A run in the Al Rayyan Stakes on Lockinge Day at Newbury (18 May) looks a viable possibility.

"He ran in the London Gold Cup last year at Newbury and the Aston Park is on the same day, a valuable Group Three race.

"He will be penalty free for that and if you are asking me in March where he will go, then off the top of my head that is what I would say.

"It's very possible he will start there. That to me looks the perfect place to start him with a nice gap until Royal Ascot."