Breton Rock earns place in QEII Stakes

Breton Rock shows typical gameness to win the Park Stakes at Doncaster. Picture: Racingfotos.com

David Simcock is keen to allow Breton Rock the opportunity to take his chance at the top table in the QIPCO-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

The six-year-old gelding will be heading to QIPCO British Champions Day in great heart, having recorded a second Group Two success of his career with victory in the Park Stakes at Doncaster last Saturday.

It means he has now contested 25 races – 14 of them in pattern company -and only finished outside of the first three on four occasions.

Breton Rock holds an entry in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on October 7, but Simcock is considering swerving that contest in favour of giving him a first outing at Group One level since he finished seventh in the Lockinge at Newbury last year.

The Newmarket handler said: “There was no ‘firm’ in the going description on Saturday so the ground was fine with him and we were pleased with him.

“He is in the Challenge Stakes and the QEII. I’d imagine we would take a dart at the big one as the entry fee is paid and he doesn’t owe us anything.”

Simcock is also set to run Lightning Spear, the Celebration Mile winner, in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He could also run Sheikhzayedroad in the Long Distance Cup at the same meeting.