John Gosden's leading miler Palace Pier is set to be back on track on Friday ahead of his first Group One target of the season in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The son of Kingman has been pretty much faultless to date, winning both his starts as a juvenile, starting at Sandown back in August winning a nice maiden and then going on to back that up over the same course and distance.
He made his seasonal debut at Newcastle on the all weather seeing off a stern effort from the Richard Fahey trained Acquitted but off the back of that he improved a massive amount to hunt down Pinatubo late in the day at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Having four wins from four races, he put his unbeaten run on the line in the Group One Jacques Le Marois and in heavy ground cleared away from the field with the Jessica Harrington trained Alpine Star the closest to him.
What a race! Palace Pier wins the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes for @FrankieDettori and John Gosden! #RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/FO18nWrQBc
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2020
That set him up perfectly for his final run of the season in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day, but unfortunately he had to settle for third and lost his unbeaten record.
Back for another season this term, the four year old was looking to make his seasonal debut in the Group One Lockinge at Newbury, but will instead head to Sandown on Friday and take part in the Group Two bet365 Mile.
This prep run could be vital to his chances at Newbury, with the Lockinge field looking to be one of the strongest seen for some years.
(Credit Racing Post) Gosden said: "We were thinking of going straight to the Lockinge with Palace Pier, but he’'s been so fresh in himself that we're running him at Sandown first. It looks a nice place to get him started."