Junior on Royal Ascot trail

14 April 2012

Jack Junior, one of the highest-achieving maidens in training, could be handed an opportunity to break his duck in the next month before taking his chance at Royal Ascot.

Brian Meehan's colt failed to show much on two runs as a juvenile but fared much better in the UAE Derby in Dubai at the end of March.

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Staying in Europe: Brian Meehan will aim for Royal Ascot with Jack Junior

Sent off at 33-1, Jack Junior ultimately proved no match for impressive winner Asiatic Boy but earned over £200,000 for finishing second.

Connections had been considering sending him to America for the Triple Crown races following that fine effort, but have now elected to stay at home.

"The plan is to stay in Europe for the foreseeable future - at least for the early part of the season," said Eamonn Connolly, racing manager for owners Roldvale Limited.

"We are looking at a preparation for Royal Ascot, where he'd go for the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile on the Tuesday.

"He is likely to have a run before then. It is not decided where, but there are options for him at Haydock, Sandown and Newmarket."

Of the decision not to travel stateside, Connolly explained: "Everything happens very quickly, but a main factor was the cost of taking him over, which is very prohibitive.

"He's had a nice break now, and is very well."

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