Marco Botti remains hopeful being raised 7lb for victory at the Shergar Cup will not hinder the chance of top-weight Archers Bay in the tote.co.uk Money Back 2nd Handicap at Ascot on Saturday.
The Wootton Bassett colt was trying a mile and a half for the first time at the international event last month and took advantage of the drop in grade to gallop home three and a quarter lengths clear of the field.
Botti now is convinced he has found the right trip for the former Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old as he relished stepping up from 10 furlongs.
The £100,000 feature will be live on Sky Sports Racing, and Botti said: “We’ve been monitoring the weather because he doesn’t want soft ground. We might just be lucky with the ground there.
“He’s in great form, I thought he won well at the Shergar Cup and he’s gone up a few pounds, but at the same time he is progressing all of time. He’s a big horse and he stays the trip well and this is another step up in class. He’s run good races this year and he just keeps progressing.
“A mile and a half is definitely his trip. He stayed well in the Shergar Cup and Ryan Moore said he definitely stays and don’t step him back.
“This looks a nice race for him. He’s giving away pounds, but at least it is three-year-olds only and it is a suitable race and hopefully the extra weight we are giving away won’t affect him.”
Connections of the Owen Burrows-trained Heyzoom are expecting him to take another step forward.
The Dubawi gelding was placed on his first two starts at Wolverhampton and Leicester before breaking his maiden at the third time of asking at Newbury.
He then stepped up in grade in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot handicap off an opening mark of 85 and did not disgrace himself, finishing a three-length fourth of 16 runners behind St Leger hopeful Enceladus.
Angus Gold, racing manager to owners Shadwell, said: “We’ve given him a break and we’ve gelded him and I liked the trajectory he was on before Ascot.
“He was second (at Leicester), then won at Newbury and was fourth in a competitive handicap, so I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t improve again.
“He’s certainly been pleasing Owen. He’s been doing quite a bit of work with Raaheeb and going nicely with him, so hopefully he’ll run a decent race at Ascot.
“The form looks good and it will be good to get him back.”