Horris Hill option for Ropey Guest
Ropey Guest may be set for one more run this season, after enhancing his reputation as a high-class two-year-old maiden with another fine run at Pattern level.
His third to Military March in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday was his third in Group Three company, after similar efforts in the Acomb and Tattersalls Stakes.
George Margarson's colt has also finished fourth in the July Stakes and sixth in the Coventry, as well third in the Listed Winkfield Stakes at Ascot.
Although few juveniles can match that record, he has yet to win a race from nine starts.
Margarson therefore has to decide whether to try to win a maiden, go for the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury later this month - or put him away for the winter.
He said: "It was a really good run. I was really pleased with him. Where we go next, I'm not sure.
"We might go for the Horris Hill at Newbury. Either that or we'll try to find the softest maiden on the planet. There's no point running in a maiden he can't win easily.
"He'll only have one more run anyway. We'll put him away and bring him back for next year."
Margarson already has a schedule in mind for 2020.
The Newmarket trainer added: "In an ideal world, my plan would be to bring him back as a three-year-old to win a maiden first time out with him, get his handicap up and go to Royal Ascot for the Britannia.
"I also think he's capable of being in the first four in the 2000 Guineas.
"He's got Group Two form, two and a half lengths off the Dewhurst second (Arizona).
"There'll be more to come from him. I'm not bothered if we run him again this year. I'm just going to see how he is."
