Trainer James Ferguson is aiming for Group 3 Jersey Stakes success at Royal Ascot with two-time winner Zoology.
Trainer James Ferguson is aiming for Group 3 Jersey Stakes success at Royal Ascot with two-time winner Zoology. The Qatar Racing-owned colt was an impressive four length winner on debut at Yarmouth before struggling in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
His victory on seasonal reappearance has proven to be excellent form, as the second-placed horse Covey has since won twice. Zoology stepped into Group 3 company when a solid fourth in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury behind Isaac Shelby, subsequently second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas).
Ferguson said, "He ran well on unsuitable ground at Newbury and with the permission of the owners, I'm taking it easy with him and going to prepare him for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"I think he can go over six or seven [furlongs] and I don't feel the need to step him up further at the moment. He got the seven at Southwell very well and the form of that race has been franked quite impressively.
"It was a solid run at Newbury and he tries very hard. You can argue the Gosden horse (Theoryofeverything) only beat us a neck and that is ground he thrives on. So it was a solid run on ground he doesn't like and hopefully we can get some good ground on a nice track at Royal Ascot and that can tee us up nicely for the rest of the season.
"He's a lovely horse to have and I'm really hoping we can win a big one with him for His Highness Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and the Qatar team."