Belardo to warm up for Champions Day in France

Belardo won this year’s Lockinge before finishing second in the Queen Anne Stakes. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Belardo is set to have a prep run ahead of another crack at the QIPCO-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

The Prix du Moulin and the Prix de la Foret are among the options for the Roger Varian-trained four-year-old, who is at his best with cut in the ground and was runner-up to Solow in the Group One last autumn.

Belardo gained his first win in the QIPCO British Champions Series when landing the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May, and he followed that by finishing second to Tepin in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“We’d like him to peak for the QEII but he’s likely to run somewhere before that, whether it’s the Moulin on September 11 or whether it’s something like the Foret on Arc day,” Varian told At The Races today.

“He’s training well and looks a picture. He’s shown his worth over a mile this year and it would be lovely to win another Group One with him.

“I think he’ll be highly competitive wherever he goes next. He looks terrific at the moment.”