Black Caviar Gold will be given two options at Royal Ascot following her excellent effort to finish fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
A Group Three-winning two-year-old last season, Paddy Twomey’s filly disappointed behind subsequent Newmarket Guineas heroine True Love on her return to action but raised her game to fill the runner-up spot in the Athasi Stakes on her next start.
She bettered that effort again to finish behind Precise, True Love and Abashiri in last month’s Curragh Classic and connections feel there will be even more improvement to come when she encounters easier conditions.
Charlie Bond, of owners Bond Thoroughbred Limited, said: “She ran really well in the Irish Guineas, that was obviously her main target for the first half of the year and she was always going to improve for her first two runs, which she did.
“Unfortunately the ground was a bit against her – she would have preferred good to soft – so she’s run an absolute blinder considering. You could see in the last furlong she was changing her legs a few times and last year she won both of her races convincingly on soft ground.
“I think she’ll head to Royal Ascot now, we have two races in mind in the Coronation Stakes and the Jersey and we’re weather watching really. Paddy is quite keen as he says she’s come out of the race really well and is ready to go.”
Another potential Royal Ascot representative for the team is Marvelman, who was bought by the Bond family after his runaway success in last season’s Park Stakes.
He was well held in the QEII on Champions Day at Ascot in October and also failed to figure when sent to Saudi Arabia for the 1351 Turf Sprint in February, while he recently missed a planned trip to Ireland for the Greenlands Stakes after suffering a cut to his head.
“Again we’re weather watching – we really need some cut in the ground for Marvelman,” Bond added.
“He is entered at Ascot (Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes), so we’ll watch this space. He’ll either go to Ascot or York or France depending on where the weather hits.
“He was in good form, but he was super impressive when he won his Group Two on soft ground so we’ll just wait for the right conditions.”
Before preparing for Ascot, Bond is eyeing Classic glory with new acquisition Concorde Agreement, who won a Group Three in her native France before placing second in the Prix Saint-Alary, a leading trial for the French Oaks.
Bond said: “A week on Sunday we’re heading for the Prix de Diane with Concorde Agreement. She won her first two races and finished second in a Group Two last time and we just purchased her last week.
“The trainer tells me she’s in good form and she’s got some fantastic speed, so we’re looking forward to seeing her.”