Watson eyes Ascot repeat for Soldier’s Call

Archie Watson has lined up the King‘s Stand Stakes for Soldier’s Call as he bids for back-to-back successes at Royal Ascot.

The Lambourn handler suffered a disappointing finish to last season with the three-year-old son of Showcasing when he finished well down the field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs, Kentucky.

However, Watson has enjoyed success with Soldier’s Call, notably with his first win at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Castle Stakes, before some Group Two and Three successes.

And, he will pitch him into action in the Dante Stakes at York in May to prepare for the King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot the following month.

Watson said: “Soldier’s Call is back in with me, and I’m very happy with him. He went back to his owners and has done very well – and I think he has strengthened up.

“He has got a very good mind on him and has gone straight back into a routine very easily.

“We will probably kick him off in the at the Dante meeting at York in the Westow Stakes, with a view to run him in the King’s Stand Stakes a month later.

“I would prefer to start to him off in an easier race against his own age group rather than run him in the Palace House Stakes or Temple Stakes, where he might have a hard race.”