Margarson Virtually Rules Young Mick Out Of Royal Ascot

Young Mick is 90 per cent certain to miss the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot according to trainer George Margarson this evening.

The Newmarket trainer explained that he had lost a race against time to get his stable star fit enough for the Group Two event over a mile and a half on Saturday, June 23.

Margarson commented: 'Young Mick has had a lot of problems with his feet over the years. He was turned out for three months before coming back to me this year and got massively overweight and all his problems came back to haunt him.

'His feet have been alright for the past month but I would have to gallop him hard on Saturday and Wednesday to get him anywhere near fit and I am not prepared to put him under that pressure at this stage.

'Instead we will prepare him to carry top-weight in the Ebor. I think he is capable of winning a big one. The owner Mike Kentish is not keen to go for the Melbourne Cup but I am. He has said if the horse wins two by September then he can go.'

The trainer could still have a couple of runners at Royal Ascot, two-year-old Magical Speedfit who may run in both the Listed five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes on the opening day (Tuesday, June 19) and the Group Two Norfolk Stakes over the same distance on Thursday, June 21., and Northern Gem who is on target for the Hampton Court (Thursday, May 21).

Margarson added: 'Magical Speedfit is the fastest two-year-old I have had and don´t be surprised if he wins easily. He is as hard as nails and might run in both races - he picks up and finds gears. I ran him quickly after his first run because I didn´t want to take a maiden to Royal Ascot but anyway now I am. He has needed a fast pace so a big field will help.

'Northern Gem is better with juice in the ground so if it came up on the soft side this Saturday he would go first for the Daniel Prenn at York. He has bottom weight and I would surprised if he came off the bit! He has taken more time than a lot of them to learn his job.'