Lee at double on Carmers who has plenty of big-race options Carmers has a mouthwatering list of options after he took the honours in the Listed His Majesty's Plate over two miles in Down Royal. Last season's Group 2 Queen's Vase hero at Royal Ascot went off 5/6 favourite, in the first-time visor, to account for his four rivals. He soon tracked the leader Dallas Star and was ridden to the front by Billy Lee a furlong and a half down. The favourite was strong in the closing stages as he beat runner-up Layfayette (9/1) by two and a quarter lengths. This gave Lee a double on the card after he took the opener on Cashel Blue (9/1) for Ken Condon. Paddy Twomey said: "He was good. "I took off the blinkers, I said it to his owner during the week that I thought that he has gone a bit cute. When he couldn't see them behind him, he didn't really care about them. I thought if I put in the slits (visor) and he saw what was coming, he might be more interested, and it looks like it. "We trained him a little bit (with the visor), I'm actually training him on his own now and he's enjoying that better. I tried the visor at home and he could see the horses behind him in the distance and he just seemed to be a bit more alert. "You are trying to do the best you can for every horse and you want to get the best out of them. I think he enjoyed himself today. "He looked to be comfortable behind Donagh (O'Connor, Dallas Star) who looked keen to make it. We were happy to sit in behind him . There's high-quality horses in it, but he looked to travel well. When they came across the top, he looked to be comfortable and enjoying himself. "I think the Gold Cup will suit him well. I thought this was a good step in going there. I think the quick ground tonight is important to him. I'd say all roads lead to Ascot. "We are probably working back from Australia in November, but Ascot is on the way. He's a high-class horse and he's a stayer, and he hasn't many miles on the clock. The campaign is pretty obvious for a horse like that - Ascot, Irish Leger, Australia. "He has beaten Scandinavia before. I think when you have a horse that is that good and they go down to the start in Ascot and there's eight runners, you have a one in eight chance. You take your chance and away you go. "I've never been to Australia, but the Melbourne Cup looks a big deal on the TV. If he was good enough to bring us there, that would be fantastic."
