Vicious Dancer is set to step up to Group Three company at Ascot on Saturday, it was revealed today.
The Richard Whitaker-trained two-year-old will run in the Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes at the Berkshire track rather than tackle the Coldstream Guards Rockingham Stakes, a Listed race, at York the same day.
The son of Timeless Times won the Harry Rosebery Stakes, also a Listed race, at Ayr last time and stays over the minimum trip.
The gelding`s trainer said: 'We`re going to Ascot for the Cornwallis.
'We run there without a penalty, we`ve got a penalty at York and that race looks pretty hot.
'So I`ve said let`s take our chance in a Group race, he`s working well and he obviously goes on the soft.'
The York race is over a furlong further than the Cornwallis but Whitaker is hopeful that Ascot`s stiff finish will suit his charge.
'I`d prefer six furlongs for him personally but he won over five at Ayr and that five`s a lot easier than Ascot`s five,' Whitaker said.
'He`s done two really good pieces of work with Lago di Varano at home this week and you`d say we could go to the races with a little bit of confidence.
'But all we can do is go to Ascot, be proud that we`re there and keep our fingers crossed.
'If he gets placed I`d be delighted, that would do for me.'
