Rebel Team Outline Plans

Connections of dual 2000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel could not be happier with the way the form of his Newmarket win is working out.

While Eagle Mountain chased home impressive Derby winner Authorized at Epsom, there have also been notable victories for Guineas also-rans Tobosa and Prime Defender.

And although there was a slight temptation to run Cockney Rebel in the Derby, owner Phil Cunningham is relishing the opportunity to don his top hat and tails at the Royal meeting.

'The form from Newmarket now looks absolutely fantastic,' said Cunningham. 'I backed Eagle Mountain each-way for the Derby and he ran a great race.

'There was a lot of temptation to run Cockney in the Derby and I´ve talked to people who know more about the game than me who have assured me he would have been placed and won a lot of money.

'But as Geoff (Huffer, trainer) said, the Derby can ruin a lot of horses, so we will stick to our plan and head for the St James´s Palace.'

After Ascot, Cunningham then has his sights set on taking on last year´s 2000 Guineas hero George Washington in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 29.

'Touch wood, hopefully he will win at Ascot, and the race I have set my heart on after that is the QE II which isn´t until September,' said Cunningham.

'Hopefully we will take on the winner of the Queen Anne, which might be George Washington.

'We´ve not entered him in the Eclipse or the Sussex Stakes. We´ve looked at the calendar and picked out a race for him a month.

'A tentative plan could be the Prix Jean Prat, then in August the Jacques le Marois and in September his main target, the QE II. In October it could be the Champion Stakes or the Breeders´ Cup.

'Wouldn´t the Champion Stakes be a race if Authorized turned up? I would love to have a crack at him.'

(C) PA Sport