Moore has high hopes for Telescope

Record-equalling Ryan Moore has been the man of the moment at Royal Ascot this week.

Moore has already matched the record tally of eight winners at the meeting, set by Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery, with two days to spare.

He will be aiming to set a new benchmark over the next two days and while he has another strong book of rides on Friday, he has already been sharing his thoughts on Telescope’s bid for back-to-back wins in the Hardwicke Stakes on the final day of the meeting.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Galileo stormed to a seven-length victory for Moore a year ago and the jockey feels he will be well prepared to go again following his victory in the Listed Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury in May.

“He’s in good shape, he’s been brought along gradually all year and I’m sure he goes there with every chance. It looks a strong Hardwicke, but he likes Ascot and I’m sure he’ll run his race,” Moore told Racing UK.

Telescope looks set to go off a short-priced favourite for the 1m4f Group 2 event with Luca Cumani‘s Postponed and the John Gosden runner Eagle Top among his main market rivals in a field of seven.

Following his wide-margin win in the Hardwicke last year Telescope was given the chance to impress in Group 1 company in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, the Juddmonte International at York and the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

A runner-up finish behind Taghrooda at Ascot was the closest he came to victory but Moore believes he could yet score an elite level success, if his master-trainer can find the correct race.

“I think he definitely could get one (Group One), it just depends on the opposition and finding the right slot, but he’s certainly good enough to win at Group One level,” Moore added.