Strategic Prince will train up to Guineas

Sultan Ahmad Shah's STRATEGIC PRINCE (Dansili [GB]) looks likely to head

straight to the May 5 English Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Newmarket,

connections revealed on Thursday.

Trainer Paul Cole declared last year's July S. (Eng-G2) and Vintage S.

(Eng-G2) winner as "on schedule" for the mile classic, which will be his first

outing since finishing third in the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1) on the Rowley Mile.

"He put on an awful lot of weight during the winter, possibly a little bit

too much, but we're gradually working it off him and he's got his summer coat,"

Cole said. "He's always been pretty straightforward to train, as he's got pretty

good legs. He's on schedule, he looks great and he's moving very well.

"I've always felt, with a horse that will get further than a mile, that a

prep race is not a good idea," he added. "We're hoping he will get the Derby

distance as the whole family have stayed, but he has got devastating speed and

that's at the back of my mind. Now the ground is drying out, I'll be pushing

more buttons."

In other Guineas news, Peter Chapple-Hyam issued an upbeat bulletin on Susan

Roy and Cheveley Park Stud's DUTCH ART (Medicean) ahead of the unbeaten colt's

tilt in the Newmarket classic.

"I'm very pleased with Dutch Art -- I couldn't be happier," Chapple-Hyam told

PA Sport. "I have no doubts about the trip and if he gets it, he wins. He should

get the trip the way he runs his races -- he just lobs along. We have to try --

only time will tell -- but he has a good attitude. He's a natural and does

exactly what it says on the tin."

Dutch Art, winner of last year's Prix Morny (Fr-G1) and Middle Park S.

(Eng-G1), has yet to tackle a trip in excess of six furlongs. His conditioner is

looking at the possibility of a prep race in the seven-furlong Greenham S.

(Eng-G3) at Newbury on April 21, but stressed that his participation in a trial

is dependent on the ground.

"It all depends on the weather," he added. "If it stays fine, he will go

straight to the Guineas but if it goes funny and I can't work him so well, he

would go to the Greenham."