Prix de l'Abbaye next up for Maximilian Tim Pitt is favouring heading straight for the Prix de l'Abbaye with Sir Maximilian, rather than running in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy at Newbury on Saturday. Pitt's stable star ran another good race here on Sunday when he chased home Stepper Point in the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. While he has been entered for the Group Three this weekend, Pitt feels Sir Maximilian may have more chance in France if he heads there without another run. "I couldn't say he will or he won't (run at Newbury) at this stage, but the best thing about the Abbaye is that it will give him a three-week break," said the Shropshire-based handler. "I'm not saying he'd come up short in the Abbaye - he ran another very good race on Sunday - but he'd have to step up again to get involved in the Abbaye. "One thing is for sure, he can't win it stood in his box and I think he deserves his place. "On softer ground, which it's likely to be, they might just come back to him. "He'll be 20-1, probably, but there has been the odd shock in the race. "He's creeping up the ratings and I think that was another career-best at the weekend. "He's the type who'll be better off in Pattern company than in handicaps with top weight. "He's won almost £100,000 from three trips to Ireland this season and has had a very fruitful campaign."
