Noble's Promise headed for Royal Ascot
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from Racing Post:
LEADING American-trained three-year-old Noble's Promise is set to run in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot as part of a small team for Kentucky trainer Kenny McPeek.
The colt will add lustre to a potentially strong party of American visitors headed by Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Kinsale King as they bid to follow up trainer Wesley Ward's success in 2009, when he landed a double at the royal meeting with Strike The Gold and Jealous Again.
McPeek, who saddled King George runner-up Hard Buck in 2004, has opted for a trip to Britain rather than running Noble's Promise in the the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday.
Last weekend, the son of Cuvee finished a good fifth behind Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby over a 1m2f trip that stretched his stamina.
"We had to scramble to get him ready for the [Kentucky] Derby and he did well," said McPeek.
"I could have run him in the next leg of the American Triple Crown, the Preakness," he added.
"But Hard Buck was a good experience and you know me, I'm unconventional and he could very well win the St James's Palace Stakes."
Noble's Promise, who will not take up an entry in the Investec Derby, featured among America's top two-year-olds in 2009, when he won the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity on the Keeneland Polytrack before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Set to be housed at Geoff Wragg's former base in Newmarket after shipping to Britain on May 31, Noble's Promise may be joined by stablemate Striking Dancer.
The Grade 2 winner, fourth to Zenyatta at Santa Anita in March, is set to runin the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes - and could be joined by two-year-olds destined for the Coventry and Queen Mary.
"Some of them will need to make one start here before they could go over there," said McPeek.
Nick Smith, Ascot's head of communications and international racing, welcomed the news.
"Kenny has been wanting to come back to Ascot for a very long time but always said he wouldn'trush it, and needed to make sure it was with the right horse," he explained.
"From our perspective, we're delighted that this will add a new element to the meeting by providing the St James's Palace Stakes with a runner fromthe USA for the first time.
"With Nicconi running in the King's Stand Stakes for Australia, possibly to be joined by West Ocean from the States, the royal meeting looks set to open with a real international flavour as we build up to what on paper and at this stage looks like an exciting and international Golden Jubilee Stakes."
West Ocean, who represents Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, could be targeted for both Ascot sprints.
There could be further American participation with Wesley Ward hoping to send some of his best two-year-olds in a bid to follow up his 2009 Ascot double.
LEADING American-trained three-year-old Noble's Promise is set to run in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot as part of a small team for Kentucky trainer Kenny McPeek.
The colt will add lustre to a potentially strong party of American visitors headed by Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Kinsale King as they bid to follow up trainer Wesley Ward's success in 2009, when he landed a double at the royal meeting with Strike The Gold and Jealous Again.
McPeek, who saddled King George runner-up Hard Buck in 2004, has opted for a trip to Britain rather than running Noble's Promise in the the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday.
Last weekend, the son of Cuvee finished a good fifth behind Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby over a 1m2f trip that stretched his stamina.
"We had to scramble to get him ready for the [Kentucky] Derby and he did well," said McPeek.
"I could have run him in the next leg of the American Triple Crown, the Preakness," he added.
"But Hard Buck was a good experience and you know me, I'm unconventional and he could very well win the St James's Palace Stakes."
Noble's Promise, who will not take up an entry in the Investec Derby, featured among America's top two-year-olds in 2009, when he won the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity on the Keeneland Polytrack before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Set to be housed at Geoff Wragg's former base in Newmarket after shipping to Britain on May 31, Noble's Promise may be joined by stablemate Striking Dancer.
The Grade 2 winner, fourth to Zenyatta at Santa Anita in March, is set to runin the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes - and could be joined by two-year-olds destined for the Coventry and Queen Mary.
"Some of them will need to make one start here before they could go over there," said McPeek.
Nick Smith, Ascot's head of communications and international racing, welcomed the news.
"Kenny has been wanting to come back to Ascot for a very long time but always said he wouldn'trush it, and needed to make sure it was with the right horse," he explained.
"From our perspective, we're delighted that this will add a new element to the meeting by providing the St James's Palace Stakes with a runner fromthe USA for the first time.
"With Nicconi running in the King's Stand Stakes for Australia, possibly to be joined by West Ocean from the States, the royal meeting looks set to open with a real international flavour as we build up to what on paper and at this stage looks like an exciting and international Golden Jubilee Stakes."
West Ocean, who represents Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, could be targeted for both Ascot sprints.
There could be further American participation with Wesley Ward hoping to send some of his best two-year-olds in a bid to follow up his 2009 Ascot double.