Champion Stakes an option for Days Ken Condon is considering the Champion Stakes at Ascot as a potential long-term target for Success Days following his narrow defeat at the Curragh on Sunday. The admirable grey made much of the running in the Group Three International Stakes before he was outmuscled late on by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer. Success Days is likely to be kept on the go for the remainder of the summer, but Condon already has one eye on a tilt at Group One glory at Ascot in October. He said: "He ran a great race the other day on ground quicker than ideal. We were very pleased with him. "He was conceding 3lb to Johannes Vermeer and has run his usual consistent race. "The Royal Whip (August 20th, Curragh) might be next if the ground is suitable, although we'll also keep an eye on the Meld Stakes in Leopardstown (July 20th) before then. "If the ground came up soft, the Group One we'd be looking at is the Champion Stakes in Ascot (October 21st). "He runs to a mark of around 114 consistently, which wouldn't be good enough to win most Group Ones, but when the ground goes very soft it can change the context of the race. "We'll see how things pan out between now and then."
