High-class middle-distance horse Fruits Of Love is back in training and on course for a possible bid to repeat last year's win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, it was revealed today.
The five-year-old, third in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in 1999, suffered a leg injury when seventh in the Japan Cup in Tokyo last November.
But he is back in light work and Mark Johnston has his sights on the Royal meeting.
"He had a suspensory injury and has been back in for a week but he is only walking at present," the trainer said.
"He will hopefully go for the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting and then the King George back at Ascot in July.
"The plan then would be to go for the Canadian International - he finished second last year and hopefully he can go one better."
Johnston is near to finalising an agreement to lease Whitcliffe Grange Farm in Ripon from Lord Zetland.
The stable, which became vacant on the retirement of Peter Calver, will not be classed as a satellite yard and Johnston, based 20 miles away at Middleham, said: "It would only have to be licensed if we intended to race out of there but we don't intend to do that.
"We will use it for breaking in the yearlings and for horses which are needing a break from racing - it will in effect be a substitute for the livery yards we have been using up to now."
