Margarson sets sights on big Ascot targets

George Margarson has his sights set on two big prizes at Ascot and he could be the envy of other Newmarket trainers with larger strings come Saturday night.

Margarson`s 16-strong stable has already netted 220,000 in prize money this year and a lucrative weekend could be on the cards.

His dual raid on the Berkshire track centres on stable star Atavus in the 100,000 Betdaq Diadem Stakes followed 35 minutes later in the 75,000 Tote Trifecta Stakes when he will be double-handed through A Touch Of Frost and Millenium Moonbeam.

Atavus has helped put Margarson on the map with important victories in the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup, the Tote International Stakes and the Group Three Stan James Hungerford Stakes.

But the trainer knows he is taking a risk dropping him to six furlongs for the first time in the Group Two Diadem.

'It`s a brave move, I think, on my part but we`ve taken some brave decisions with him this year and they`ve paid off,' said Margarson today.

'To go a mile in the Group Two company would be too much, but dropping back to six, who knows?

'If he gets outpaced in the early stages, you know he`ll be finishing at the end.'

But Margarson has something bigger in mind for Atavus.

'Win, lose or draw on Saturday, his big target is the Group One Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs at Longchamp on October 14.

'The Ascot race drops in nicely two weeks before.'

Margarson is hedging his bets with his duo in the Tote Trifecta as A Touch Of Frost is a free-running mare who loves fast going while cut in the ground suits Millenium Moonbeam and he likes to be held up.

'The Tote Trifecta Stakes has cut up nicely for us,' said the trainer.

'A Touch Of Frost has been put up to 90, but she runs off her old mark of 84 in this race. She should be 6lb well in but we`ve all seen that before.

'I`ve only had Millenium Moonbeam two months, but he ran well first time for me when fifth at Doncaster.

'I`ve booked Gary Hind to ride him instead of Jamie Mackay now that the weights have gone up. He`s a big strong horse and Gary gets on well with him.

'Willie Haggas`s Mr Mahoose looks the one to beat. But at least I`ll be double-handed, with a pace horse and a hold-up horse.

It was through the success of Atavus that Margarson was sent Millenium Moonbeam by the owners from Mark Pitman as that is basically a jumping yard.

And Margarson can`t wait for Saturday. 'It should be quite an exciting day for us,' he quipped.

'If we can win of these it would cap our season.'