Champions Day not ruled out for Bay City Roller

Bay City Roller is pencilled in for anther French challenge after his fine effort in the Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

The three-year-old is trained by George Scott for Victorious Racing and came home second best for the third time this season, with earlier starts in both the Heron Stakes and the Prix Eugene Adam gaining him the same placing.

The run was a first over a mile and a half for the colt, who was beaten just a short neck by Godolphin’s Andre Fabre-trained Cualificar, and though it was an encouraging performance over the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trip there are other targets in store.

“He came out of the race really well, his mindset is probably his best asset really, he’s so chilled out and saves all his effort for the race,” said Scott.

“He’s bred to be fine over a mile and a half, but obviously he has tactical speed, which is what you need.

“I saw the blue horse (Cualificar) coming all the way to be honest, William (Buick) has got a knack of doing that to me!

“We were beaten fair and square on the day, but I think our horse will be better with more cut in the ground, it was drying all the time.

“It’s been like that all year for this horse unfortunately, it’s dried out so quick everywhere we’ve been.”

The Prix du Conseil and the Champion Stakes are under discussion for Bay City Roller’s next outing, with the ground and the depth of both races key factors in the final decision.

Scott said: “We won’t go for the Arc. What we’re going to do is enter the day after Champions Day in the Prix du Conseil, a Group Two over a mile and three furlongs at Longchamp.

“We’ll monitor the Champion Stakes and see what the ground is like and if there are any defections, then we’ll decide if we go to Ascot or France.”

He added: “The Champion Stakes is the Champion Stakes, but it has a different feel to the Arc, which has a raft of top-class horses, at Ascot there might only be two or three and a much smaller field.

“If we do take the plunge everything will have to be right.”