The Queen’s Tactical set for Group 1 French mission after impressive July Stakes win for Andrew Balding at Newmarket

THE QUEEN’S Tactical will be gunning for Group 1 glory after a stylish triumph in the July Stakes at Newmarket.

Andrew Balding’s Royal Ascot hero made it two wins on the trot, finishing strongly to see off Yazaman by just over a length.

A colt on the up – Tactical stepped up on his Listed win at Royal Ascot in style

It marked a treble on Day 1 of the July Festival for jockey William Buick and the Prix Morny in France will be next on the radar for the Toronado colt.

Balding smiled: “It’s fantastic for us to have a horse as good as this for Her Majesty. It’s really exciting and rewarding.

“I’m sure there are some very smart horses that haven’t even raced yet and we still have a way to go, but he is near the top of the tree at the moment.

“We will stay at this trip for now, then when we get to autumn, you have a choice of six or seven.

“The Morny is the plan I’d hope now.

“He’s shown he goes on any ground, which is always nice to know before you go travelling, and he obviously coped with the six furlongs well today.”

Tactical was shortened into 16-1 with Betway for the 2000 Guineas next season, with other firms sticking at 25-1.

Earlier in the day, Bahrain Trophy winner Al Aasy took another big step forwards for the William Haggas team.

Interestingly connections hinted he may drop back down in trip and the St Leger is unlikely to be a target.

He travelled sweetly under an excellent Jim Crowley ride and was last off the bridle when picking up leaders Miss Yoda and Dawn Rising who got racing early.

Early quotes for the final Classic of the season are best avoided for now with a mile-and-a-half set to be his trip.

Maureen Haggas, wife of William, said: “I don’t think he’s a Leger horse. A well run mile-and-a-half will be his thing.

“He was our Derby horse for the year but he just wasn’t ready in time.

“We could try something like the Voltigeur and go from there.”

Al Suhail was a runaway winner of the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes making the most of a big drop in class.

He was last seen down the field in the 2000 Guineas but showed his class cantering away from Mystery Power in second.

No targets were in the offing but local trainer trainer Charlie Appleby said Goodwood would unlikely be on their radar.