National Stakes agenda for York conqueror Phoenix Of Spain
Charlie Hills' Acomb winner could step up to Group 1 level on September 16
PROGRESSIVE Phoenix Of Spain could be thrown in at the deep end in the National Stakes next weekend.
The two-year-old won the Acomb at York in impressive fashion last time out and would bid to make it three wins in a row.
Charlie Hills' two-year-old showed much improved form on the Knavesmire that day, building on a win in a Wolverhampton novice, and will now bid to make his mark at Group 1 level.
However, connections would need to supplement the son of Lope De Vega, who also has an entry a few days earlier in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Hills said: "He's come out of York very well. He's put the weight back on, so he'll do a couple of pieces of work this week and then we'll decide where we're going next.
"He's in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and there's a good chance he'll go there. The other option is to supplement him for the National Stakes.
"We're very happy with him and I think he'll go for one or the other of those two races."
If taking the Champagne Stakes route, he'll likely have to take on impressive Solario Stakes winner Too Darn Hot, who was on Monday reported to have the Group 2 contest as his target.