PHIL Makin is one of the newest additions to the training ranks but is already dreaming of Royal Ascot.
His Muker was one of the first two-year-olds to book their spot at the Royal Meeting after he won on debut at Newcastle on Tuesday.
Makin has his eye on the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs for the son of Mehmas following his win at 20-1 in Division 1 of the Betway Maiden Stakes.
He told Sun Racing: “He stuck it out well and we were confident we had quite a nice horse going into the race.
“But then again there was lots of talk around a lot of them with Royal Ascot around the corner and all the nominations.
“So we were more hopeful than confident but he had definitely been showing us something at home.
“In these races you have nothing to go on, but they should prove strong enough given that trainers have had to put forward horses for them.
“There’s no reason for us not to aim at Royal Ascot. There will be plenty of horses between now and then that are trying to get a run and some experience beforehand but we’ve got plenty of time now and sit on him and get him in there.
“I’d be leaning towards the Windsor Castle with him.”
After breaking his neck last August in a Redcar fall, Makin retired from the saddle last March and quickly took out a training licence.
He is based in North Yorkshire with fellow ex-jockey Sammy Jo Bell as assistant trainer.
And he is no stranger to Royal Ascot success having his biggest day in the saddle when winning the Norfolk Stakes on Batak Chinta in 2011.
Makin added: “This is basically our first full year. I didn’t get my licence until March last year and it meant we were always on the backfoot with the horses, especially with the two-year-olds.
“So this year we have a better chance and to know we have a nice one already is good, and hopefully we have a few more to come.
“It’s an exciting time now and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling and it’s fantastic for us to be even thinking of Ascot already.
“The owners have been great and thankfully they’ve bought us some yearlings to go to war with this year.”
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