Blue set to contest King George

Anabaa Blue could bid to make it back-to-back wins for France in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes next month, it emerged today.

Montjeu ended a 24-year drought for cross-channel raiders in Britain`s biggest middle-distance race when trotting up at odds of 1-3 last season.

And now his compatriot Anabaa Blue is being targeted at the Ascot showpiece, for which he is 6-1 joint third favourite with Coral.

Rather than taking a midsummer break before being prepared for the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe in October or tackling Galileo in the Irish Derby, the Prix du Jockey-Club winner could head to Britain on July 28th for the second leg of the Emirates World series.

After walking the course today trainer Carlos Lerner said through an interpreter: 'We would like to run at Ascot but we will take time and think about it.

'I have always wanted to have a runner in the King George and I am lucky to have one entered. He is a very tough horse, he can go on any ground and he will adapt to the track at Ascot.

'He recovered very quickly and well from the Jockey-Club and he will go back into serious training next week but I prefer to give him more time so he will not go for the Irish Derby.'

Jockey Christophe Soumillon would be having his first ride in the big race but Lerner plans to ensure the youngster has experience of the track before the King George.

'I plan to bring another horse who works with him to run in an earlier race so the jockey can get a feel of the course,' the trainer said.

Anabaa Blue is among 49 entries revealed today for the Stg£750,000 mile-and-a-half contest.

Others include winners of the Derby (Galileo), Oaks (Imagine) and French Oaks (Aquarelliste) plus most of Europe`s top middle-distance horses.