Ascot Specialist Mick Takes Group Test

Young Mick gets the chance to prove himself in Pattern company when he tackles the Grosvenor Casinos Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot tomorrow.

Trainer George Margarson has decided to step the vastly-improved four-year-old up to Group Three level instead of carrying a big weight in the totesport 0800 221 221 Stakes (Heritage Handicap) on the same card.

'I thought it would be better than carrying top weight in the handicap,' said Margarson.

'I think he's ready to step up to that level. He's in really good form and ready to do the job.

'If he's up to that level I'd sooner know this year rather than next year.

'I think he'll take all the beating.

'If he won on Sunday it would give us the option of a big all-weather invitation race in Japan, a very good race on the dirt at the end of November.

'The Melbourne Cup would be a gamble because of the trip. It's 50-50 he'll go there. We'll discuss after he's run on Sunday.

'We are concerned that he's had such a long year that all the travelling will take the edge off him.'

Young Mick, unbeaten in three races over the Ascot mile and a half, faces eight rivals. They include Luca Cumani's Glistening who finished a short head in front of Young Mick when they were second and third in the Ebor at York last month.

? PA Sport