The Phoenix Thoroughbreds owned King Ademar could still take his place in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot after he finished a superb second at Nottingham on Wednesday.
The Martyn Meade trained colt was having his first start in handicap company and was giving the eventual winner Ouzo nearly a stone in weight which was perhaps the crucial factor as the bare entered a prolonged battle for supremacy down the straight. Losing out by just a neck while taking on more race sharpened rivals the Son of Scat Daddy was having his first start since April, and only the fourth of his career. With the front pair clear of the rest of the field it was a pleasing performance for all concerned and one connections hope leads to a rise in his handicap mark for him to secure an assignment at the Royal Meeting.
Jockey Oisin Murphy said the colt gave him a “nice feel” before Martyn Meade told the assembled press:
“He was giving away a lot of weight, and the ground wouldn’t have been ideal for him at all, he’d prefer much quicker. It’s nice safe ground here so it was worth giving him an outing as he was a bit ring rusty and there no doubt he’ll come on for it, we’ll just wait and see what we do handicap wise now.”
King Ademar was an Arqana Breeze-Up purchase in 2018 and from the family of Prix Morny winner Elusive City. Out of winning mare Parisian Affair he also holds bloodlines to multiple Garde One winner Coup de Fusil among several other stakes performers.