Nathaniel could be back at Ascot for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Favourite for the Group 1 St Leger Stakes, Nathaniel may take a detour before testing his strides at Doncaster and jump to the Ascot for the Group 1 £1,000,000 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
It took the John Gosden trained son of Galileo three attempts to win his first maiden race, but from then on he has made some notable contributions in his bid to become the St Leger favourite.
His two-year career eluded him a maiden win which meant unless Nathaniel won a maiden he will not be able kick start his career.
A winless two-year career didn’t make his connections lose hope in him. In 2011, the first maiden race Nathaniel participated was the St Helen Maiden Stakes at Haydock on 16 April, 2011.
On a mitigated field of three horses, Nathaniel defeated Madrasa by a massive nine lengths.
After the win, trainer John Gosden chucked Nathaniel in a Group 3 stakes race at Chester, in the MBNA Chester Vase. The three-year-old bay colt ran an emphatic race among four other horses on the field.
Nathaniel chased the leaders in the early part of the race under jockey William Buick, the pair raced keenly for 3 furlongs out.
The pair was challenged throughout the race but ran on gamely to finish just a mere head behind the Aidan O’Brien trained Treasure Beach.
There was still a lot to come from Nathaniel, as he got among the Royal Ascot entrants to run the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes on 17 June, 2011, at the Royal Ascot.
Nathaniel under jockey William Buick held off the pace in the beginning of the race, travelling well behind the leaders. William Buick got the cue really early and led the lot throughout the race.
Nathaniel grabbed the race from the scruff of the neck, 2 furlongs out drew clear of everyone on the field and ran strongly in the final furlong to land a comfortable grade 2 stakes win at the Royal Ascot, defeating the closest rival, Fiorente, by a massive
margin of five lengths.
The win at the Royal Ascot shot up Nathaniel’s earnings to £103,797, with the life time career of 2 wins out of 5 starts and thrice ending up as the runner up.
Owner Lady Rothschild’s manager, James Wigan, reported that the ground at Ascot will be a real factor for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Good or good to soft would be ideal, but at this time of the year there are plenty of races on the Ascot track, but if the trainer and owner feels good about the race then it will be the three-year-old's route.
Tags: