Cheikeljack can kick off a Group 1 winning weekend for Myboycharlie (Ire) in the Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) at Royal Ascot on Friday.
The Vinery sire has another Group 1 engagement with Camprock in the French Oaks (2100m) at Chantilly on Sunday.
French raider Cheikeljack has been labelled a dark horse for the Commonwealth Cup and bookmakers have kept him safe at $8 behind the favourite Quiet Reflection.
The Alex Pantall trained colt has won three of his five starts, most recently proving much too strong for Ribchester, who won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier this week.
Curiously, Cheikeljack has done all his racing up to a mile rather than over Friday’s 1200m trip. “He won very well at Maisons-Laffitte and seeing Ribchester win was very nice,” said Pantall. “The horse is well and his work has been good.
“The ground will not be a problem for him – it was heavy when he won at Maisons-Laffitte. I think the distance will be better for him than a mile in England. I hope he can run a big race.”
Cheikeljack (3c Myboycharlie – Senderlea by Giant’s Causeway) had won by a combined 12 lengths in his first two starts at Le Lion-D’angers last year before finishing third in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon (1200m) at Saint-Cloud in October.
He resumed with an encouraging fifth in the LR Prix Omnium (1600m) at Saint-Cloud before landing the G3 Prix Djebel (1400m) at Maisons-Laffitte last time out on April 7.
Cheikeljack is a half-brother to five winners and hails from the family of Ascot hero Mtoto (G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes).
Camprock is also in the market at $8 for the French Oaks. She lost her unbeaten record last time out in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary (2000m) but wasn’t disgraced when going down a head to Jemayel.
Myboycharlie is putting the finishing touches to another Group 1 winning season in Australia highlighted by Victorian Oaks winner Jameka. His Queensland filly Blueberry Hill will give the LR Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) a shake on Saturday if she can reproduce her best form at Ipswich.
