Ask misses Canada for Royal-Oak.

Byline: Tony Elves

ASK will miss the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine on October 17 and will be aimed instead at the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp on October 25.

The Sadler's Wells horse was beaten only two lengths when third to Conduit in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, and had previously beaten Youmzain by a nose in the Coronation Cup when notching his first Group 1 success.

Ask was beaten a nose by Cloudy's Knight in the 2007 Canadian International but, instead of aiming to make amends in the race, will step up to an extended 1m7f for the first time in a race his trainer Sir Michael Stoute won with Allegretto two years ago.

Patrick Fahey, who owns Ask, said: "Ask is not going to Canada, he's just not ready yet. We will look at the Prix Royal-Oak and he will probably stay in training again next year."

Stoute's exciting juvenile Workforce, impressive winner of a 7f maiden at Goodwood last month, will not race again this season.

Workforce scored by six lengths from subsequent Tattersalls Timeform Million winner Oasis Dancer at Goodwood.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah, said: "He's a big, scopey horse and at this stage we thought that might be enough for him for this year. His form is high class and he's an exciting prospect."

CAPTION(S):

Ask: will run at Longchamp on October 25