Turf Talk: '˜Excited' Andre Fabre weighs up Persian King's options

The Frankel colt, who is as short as 16-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas, took his record to two from three, with his only defeat coming at the hands of Freddy Head’s Anodor on debut.

Given Anodor has won a Group Three on his only other outing, that form stands up to scrutiny, and Persian King appears to be improving with racing, having won his next two outings by an aggregate of 11 lengths.

Fabre would like to run him on Arc weekend in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but not if the ground is soft.

“I’m a bit concerned about the going, if it rained I would not risk him at Longchamp,” said Fabre.

“He has an option at Newmarket, a Group Three (Autumn Stakes).

“I wouldn’t be thinking of running him in the Dewhurst, that might be too big a step, but Newmarket is a course I like to run my two-year-olds, it is the best course in the world.

“If you think you have a Guineas horse, it is always good to try them there first.

“I do like him, I was excited by the way he quickened. I know you always worry ‘who did he beat’, but he could not have done much more. My feeling at this point is excitement.”

n Poet’s Word has suffered an injury setback and will not be seen in action again this year. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old has been one of the stories of the season, beating Cracksman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, before getting the better of stablemate Crystal Ocean in an epic finish to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

His latest start came in the Juddmonte International at York, where he was second to Roaring Lion. Stoute said: “His owner, Saeed Suhail, will soon be coming to England and will make a decision on his future.”

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

AYR: 1.30 Dark Jedi, 2.00 Saint Equiano, 2.30 Mustaqbal, 3.05 Chinese Spirit, 3.35 ASPETAR (NAP), 4.10 Agincourt (next best), 4.45 Danehill Desert, 5.20 Qasr.

CHELMSFORD: 5.45 Jack’s Point, 6.15 Special Mission, 6.45 Awesome Allan, 7.15 Firmament, 7.45 Auxerre, 8.15 Hidden Stash, 8.45 Cat Royale, 9.15 Ainne.

PONTEFRACT: 2.10 Bugler Bob, 2.40 Detachment, 3.15 Autretot, 3.45 Procedure (treble), 4.20 Airmax, 4.55 Momtalik, 5.25 Seamster.

YARMOUTH: 1.50 Isaan Queen, 2.20 Boerhan, 2.50 King’s Girl, 3.25 Okool, 4.00 Floria Tosca, 4.35 Lady Freyja, 5.10 Khamry.