Ascot next for Twomey's Blandford winner La Petite Coco is set to head next for the Qipco British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes, after lowering the colours of Love at the Curragh. Next month’s mile-and-a half Group One at Ascot beckons for the Paddy Twomey-trained three-year-old, who wore down Aidan O’Brien’s dual 2020 Classic winner in the closing stages to take Sunday’s Group Two Blandford Stakes by a short head. Should La Petite Coco put up another big performance then the Breeders’ Cup Maker’s Mark Filly And Mare Turf at Del Mar in early November would then be given strong consideration. Barry Irwin, founder and chief executive of owners Team Valor, said: “Ascot is the plan. Paddy set the schedule up a couple of months ago, and right now we don’t see any reason to waiver from it. “The only question mark coming up is if she performs well there whether we go for the Breeders’ Cup. Most of my partners are from the United States, and to go for the Breeders’ Cup would be meaningful. “The ground yesterday was good. The jockey Billy Lee said she doesn’t want it any harder than that. She prefers cut in the ground. “I’m from California — and during that time of year at Del Mar, rain is not very likely, so we are going to take it one step at a time and see what she does next. We will think about it and we are going to keep her in training next year.”
