Latest news ahead of Saturday's Hardwicke Harbinger bids to complete a hat-trick of Pattern races this season when he lines up for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old is sure to be a popular choice after giving 3lb and a one-and-a-half-length beating to Thursday's gallant Gold Cup runner-up Age Of Aquarius in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last time. He had shown he could be a force in major middle-distance races this term by kicking off the season in style with a smooth success over subsequent Yorkshire Cup winner Manifest in the Group Three John Porter Stakes at Newbury. "He's been very impressive and Sir Michael always thought this horse would be a better four-year-old and a real big improver. So far that's exactly what has proven to have happened," said Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. "As far as I know he's in very good form. I saw him last week and he looked fantastic. "I don't know about the ground, whether that's a possible issue if it's very quick ground. That's just a nagging thought in the back of one's mind. "On what he's done this is the right spot. He doesn't get a penalty, having won two Group Threes, so we are very excited. "This has been the plan for a long time Sir Michael mapped it out. "He went to Chester with a penalty so that we could get two Group races in the bag before heading to this race without a penalty. "So far it's all gone well."
