Walker In No Rush With Stormy

Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic) will have his sights set on a French mission later in the summer after trainer Ed Walker ruled the 3-year-old out of Royal Ascot action. Having started the season so brightly when beating Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket it turned a bit pear shaped when he finished in rear behind Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket where it subsequently came to light that he had sustained a muscle injury. “It was a tough day [at Newmarket]. He came out of the 2000 Guineas sore and pulled a muscle in his shoulder. He's now back cantering and he's really well,” said Walker. “We've taken him out of Ascot, so we're going to dodge that and hopefully get ready for the [G1] Prix Jean Prat in July.” Though proven on soft ground Walker feels Stormy Antarctic is equally at home on good ground. “We're going to France because it looks the right option for him, not necessarily to chase soft ground. I wouldn't be afraid of running him on good ground,“ added Walker. The trainer has lost none of his faith in the colt and looking further ahead has some lofty end of season targets in mind. “The goal is something like the [G1] QEII at Ascot on Champions Day, that would be the real dream. We've put a line through the Guineas. What he did in the Craven was very exciting. We'll cling on that and look forward to the future.”