Rain puts Mills at ease
Petara Bay could be in line for a crack at the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot providing that there is some ease in the ground.
Last Updated: 07/06/12 4:49pm
Robert Mills has his fingers crossed that conditions at Royal Ascot will be suitable for his stable stalwart Petara Bay in the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
The eight-year-old faces a crucial workout on Friday ahead of the marathon contest as he has been off the track since winning a mile-and-three-quarter handicap at Glorious Goodwood last summer.
Petara Bay is no stranger to Royal Ascot having taken part in the 2008 Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Hardwicke Stakes two years ago.
However, these days he needs a stiffer test of stamina as well as some cut in the ground.
"We need this rain for Petara Bay who's been a very good horse on his day," the Surrey trainer told At The Races.
"He won last year at Glorious Goodwood but he's very ground dependent and he's getting on now.
Serious Gallop
"Hopefully, he'll run on the Saturday of Royal Ascot in the Queen Alexandra. He stays very well, but he must have some give in the ground.
"We'll know a bit more tomorrow. He's having a serious gallop so we'll have more of an idea where we are after that."
Another possible member of Mills' team for the Royal meeting is Ewell Place.
The Group Three Jersey Stakes is the target for the three-year-old, who has not raced since finishing third to Bogart in the valuable DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at York in August.
"Hopefully, Ewell Place (will run) in the Jersey Stakes if all goes well. He's been off the track. I'd have loved him to have a run," he said.
"He was just behind and had niggly things going on and we've had to wait. He might just go straight there if all goes well.
"He's working well now ,so we just hope to get him there in one piece."