What next for Camelot??

Today the Prince Of Wales over 10F was the main Group one feature at Royal Ascot today. 

Gale Force Ten started the day off brilliantly for Aidan O Brien and Coolmore when the son of Oasis Dream held on to win the Group three Jersey Stakes. With such a fantastic start by Coolmore their star colt Camelot was favoured to keep the winning trend for the stable going in the Prince Of Wales stakes.

The Prince Of Wales Stakes at 15:45 was the race billed as the Re-match between Camelot and Al Kazeem. The pair had locked horns at the Curragh a few weeks earlier with Al Kazeem running down his arch rival in the manner of a very good horse. 

Camelot went to Ascot with a mission, to win the Prince Of Wales and gain back the reputation and respect he once had. Sadly things did not go his way and he finished a very disappointing fourth having been ridden in mid division through the race. The colt could find no more when asked and the race was left to be battled between Al Kazeem and Mukhadram with the former gaining his 2nd Group one. 

Camelot's reputation and respect by the public was lost when he crossed the line in fourth today. The question now is what can Coolmore do to get this colt to attract breeders to send their best mares to him when he retires. 

One does think that had Camelot been retired at the end of his three year old season, it would have been better for his stud career. He would have appealed breeders more. An unbeaten Group one two year old and a three time classic winner. His disappointing performance in the Arc can be affordably forgiven after a hard season plus the bout of colic.

Coolmore are not giving up on this colt with the Eclipse Stakes again at 10F talked of as the colts next start. If he does turn up he will be sure to meet Al Kazeem for the third time. Camelot's reputation is now badly damaged a win in the eclipse may or may not help his stud value. If he is to attract the best mares his record needs to improve drastically. But if he loses again then Coolmore may find it hard to get the mares from outside breeders. 

Camelot is a beautiful talented colt and I can only hope that breeders and the public will give him a chance. And I hope he can someday reward the faith that his fans and Coolmore have put into him.