Italy could be next for Stormy Antarctic

Stormy Antarctic could head out to Italy to contest the Premio Vittorio di Capua after side-stepping an outing in Sunday's Prix du Moulin at Chantilly.

The son of Stormy Atlantic had been due to contest the Group One mile prize after his run in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville last month.

However, with the ground set to ride on the quick side, trainer Ed Walker has decided to re-route the three-year-old with the Group One contest at San Siro one of three races now under consideration, along with the Shadwell Joel Stakes and the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

Walker said: "We were very keen to go back to France, but it was just the ground. Soft ground is where all his best form has been and it was going to be too quick for him on Sunday.

"We will just bide our time and wait for where the soft ground is. He has got three options before going for the QEII at Ascot. There is the Joel Stakes at Newmarket, the Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc weekend and the Premio Vittorio di Capua.

"He has been second in two Group One races and it would be nice to make him a Group One winner and it is normally pretty soft in Italy for that race.

"He is in good shape so it is a shame he is not running this weekend."

Stormy Antarctic won the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes at Newbury 12 months ago and stablemate Ultimate Avenue could attempt to follow in his hoofprints in this year's renewal next week.

Walker added: "He is a very exciting horse. He is in the Royal Lodge, but I may just stick him in the Haynes, Hanson and Clark and have a look at that.

"He is in really good form and the form of his Newbury win is working out well. This could be a nice stepping stone before stepping him up later this year or next year.

"He is a different type of horse to Stormy Antarctic, whereas he has never been a super flashy worker, this horse is a pretty good work horse.

"He has got lots of size and scope and is a big frame of a horse. We hope he will be a pretty smart three-year-old and his next outing could be his last of the season."