Azamour may step up in trip after Bachelor Duke rematch at Ascot.

Byline: Michael Clower.

IRISH 2,000 Guineas runner-up Azamour may step up to ten furlongs after a

second shot at Bachelor Duke in the

St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, writes Michael Clower.

John Oxx, who trains Azamour for the Aga Khan, said yesterday: "I still have to discuss things with His Highness, but I

expect the decision will be to run him next in the St James's Palace.

"The plan in my mind is to give him one more try at a Group 1 over a mile, and

Ascot should suit him, but perhaps we could move him up to a mile and a quarter after that.

"He is good at a mile and he might be good at a bit further too, but we think a mile and a half would be stretching him."

Azamour, previously third in the 2,000 Guineas, was beaten a length by the fast-finishing Bachelor Duke at The Curragh and Oxx believes that his colt might

have been even closer had the pair

raced nearer each other in the closing stages.

He said: "We were beaten fair and square but Azamour idled a bit after bursting through and seemed to think he had done enough. He might have maintained the burst a bit longer if the winner had come with him."

James Toller, who was winning his first Classic in 24 years as a trainer, is aiming Bachelor Duke at the St James's Palace Stakes.

"I can hardly believe this has happened, and the response from people has been overwhelming," said Toller.

"It's a great result for everyone at the yard, and they've worked so hard to achieve it. Of course, there is deep regret that the Duke of Devonshire didn't live to see the win. He has been a huge supporter of ours for 20 years or more."

"The way he finished would suggest that he'll get beyond a mile, although they

didn't go a strong gallop and that may be misleading. Anyway, he'll remain at a mile for now, and Ascot is the obvious place to go."

Leitrim House, fourth behind Bachelor Duke, may also run in the Ascot race.

Trainer Brian Meehan said: "If they'd gone that bit faster, it would have been to his advantage, but he's come back in good form. He's entered in the Jersey Stakes, but I'm sure he's a Group 1 horse, so I think the St James's Palace will be the aim."

nTony Morris, page 13