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| Staff Writer |
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Wimbledon Hawkeye appears set to bypass the Derby at Epsom next month, with connections favouring a tilt at the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot instead.
The Gredley Family-owned colt, trained by John Gosden, is being positioned for what connections believe represents a more suitable target in the Group Two contest at the Royal meeting rather than taking his chance in the premier Classic.
The son of Kameko has yet to register a victory in three starts this season, having finished runner-up in the Craven Stakes before managing fifth in the 2000 Guineas and third in the Dante Stakes at York.
Those performances have convinced connections that the US$312,500 King Edward VII Stakes on June 20 offers a better opportunity for the colt to return to winning ways, having last tasted success when claiming Group Two honours in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket last September.
Tim Gredley, speaking for the ownership group, explained the reasoning behind the decision. "I think we are going to swerve the Derby and go to King Edward VII at Royal Ascot as it fits better," he said.
"He could go to the Derby and run really well and finish third or fourth, but at Royal Ascot we think he has got a good chance of winning and that's how we are looking at it.
"At the end of the day we would like to try and make him into a little stallion and we need to be winning Group races. He is in good order and he has come out of his last race sound."
The strategy reflects connections' desire to maximise their chances of securing pattern race success, with stallion prospects very much in mind for the well-bred colt.
The King Edward VII Stakes will present Wimbledon Hawkeye with his first attempt at a mile and a half, though Gredley remains optimistic about the step up in trip.
"I think he ran a really good race over the extended mile and a quarter in the Dante, and he was beaten by some really classy unexposed horses," he added.
"It will be interesting going over a mile and a half with him. I'd like to think he will stay as his mother Eva Maria is by Sea The Stars, but until you try it you don't really know.
"He has got a great brain and when they have that it gives them a really strong chance of seeing it out."