Tactical adds to Ascot win with July Stakes triumph

The Queen’s colt takes starring role at Newmarket.

Tactical confirmed Royal Ascot form with Yazaman when finishing off strongly to win the Tattersalls July Stakes for the Queen.

Andrew Balding’s youngster won the Windsor Castle over five furlongs last month, beating Yazaman into second, but the 15-8 favourite for the Group Two was Mark Johnston’s Qaader, who was runner up in the Coventry Stakes.

Jim Crowley attempted to make all on Qaader, but coming out of the dip he was being challenged on either side.

Yazaman hit the front first under Tom Marquand and looked set to go one better than at Ascot, but once William Buick got Tactical (5-2) on an even keel, he fairly flew up the hill to win by a length and a quarter, with Escape Route running on into third.

Buick was completing a treble following wins earlier on Bear Force One and Al Suhail.

The Queen’s bloodstock advisor John Warren said: “I think form-wise that was probably the same as the Windsor Castle, but the way he did it looked even better again. I think we might just have a very nice horse on our hands. It’s very exciting.

“We might look at the Prix Morny as a potential objective for him. He is so laid back and uncomplicated he will handle the travelling. Although it looks like he will stay seven furlongs, at the moment we will keep to what he has been good at. He ran through the line well.

“We will run him again over six, then worry about seven after that. When William walked back in he said this was a proper horse. I’m thrilled for the Queen.

“He is a lovely, uncomplicated professional with a proper engine, which makes him so exciting.”

Betfair trimmed the winner into 25-1 from 33s for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Balding added: “That was quite encouraging for the future.

“That (Morny) is the plan I’d hope very much. He has shown he is versatile on any ground, which is always nice to know before you go travelling, that you have a horse that can cope with a variety of ground and he obviously coped with the six furlongs well today.

Tactical was well on top at the finish
Tactical was well on top at the finish (Edward Whitaker)

“It is really fantastic for us to have a horse as good as this for Her Majesty. It is really exciting and rewarding.

“I’m sure there will be some very good horses that haven’t even raced yet and we still have a way to go, but he is near the top of the tree at the moment. We will stay at six for the time being, then when we get to the autumn, you have a choice of six or seven.

“I’d like to see him at seven before we made that decision (on whether he is a sprinter or miler) because the dam stayed seven in soft ground and the sire was a top miler, so there is no reason really why he shouldn’t stay a mile.”

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Andrew Balding Tactical July Stakes

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