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George Scott's impressive Royal Ascot hero is ready for a crack at Group 1 level.
The George Scott-trained Isle Of Jura looks set for a return to the Berkshire venue next month with the Hamilton Road-based handler targeting his stable star at the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month.
The progressive four-year-old extended his winning streak to five when blitzing his rivals for a commanding three and three-quarter length success at Ascot on Saturday and Scott has reported the son of New Approach to come out of the race in fine fettle.
"He came out of the race really well. Obviously, he had a hard race, but he was bright the next day," Scott said speaking to Sky Sports Racing.
Such was the dominance of his performance, that the winning trainer was able to enjoy his first Royal Ascot winner with comfort. "The race was won a furlong out, so we were able to enjoy the race," added Scott. "Initially, we planned to be further back, although there was no pace in the race, we planned to come off it, but Callum jumped clean and was in the perfect position off a sensible pace.
"Turning for home he looked to have the race won and it was one of those moments you rarely have when everything just stopped, to be honest. I was stood with my father, and we were able to soak it up."
Isle Of Jura was sent off a relatively unfancied 16/1 chance having landed the Bahrain Triple Crown over the winter and Scott admits it was tough to weight up the form heading into the contest. However, with proven back-to-back victories on home soil, Scott is eyeing Group 1 back at Ascot glory next month.
He said: "We were confident he was a very good horse, but we weren't able to put it into numbers as my form man wasn't able to do the numbers in Bahrain and we weren't sure how it would translate back in the UK.
"He's a magnificent specimen, 17 hands, all quality and he's very hard to fault. He's from a late-maturing family so he was due to keep improving, but I don't think in our wildest dreams we thought he'd do that. It was well documented before the race it was an above-average Hardwicke.
"The King George is the obvious race, we'll point towards there and pray the ground stays fast, we'll keep an eye on the weather closer to the time.
"He's going to get a new rating of 119 tomorrow, so he slots in perfectly with that rating."
Paddy Power make Isle Of Jura an 8/1 chance for the midsummer highlight with Prince Of Wales's Stakes hero Auguste Rodin heading the market at 7/4.
