Comer eyes Gold Cup assignment for German Group 2 winner Raa Atoll

Raa Atoll, who provided his owner-trainer Luke Comer with his biggest success in the Group 2 Oleander Rennen at Hoppegarten on Sunday, will have a busy schedule next month with targets in the US and Royal Ascot.

A dual winner for John Gosden last year, the son of Sea The Stars was bought by millionaire property developer and businessman Comer for 30,000gns at the horses in training sale at Newmarket in October.

Sunday’s race, sponsored by his owners Comer Group International, was Raa Atoll’s first start for his new connections.

Ridden by Jozef Bojko, a Slovak based in Germany, he won the 2m event by a length and a half from the Willie Mullins-trained Thomas Hobson.

Luke Comer: sponsors the Irish St LegerCredit: Caroline Norris

According to Jim Gorman, assistant trainer to Comer, the four-year-old’s next start will be in the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational at Belmont Park on June 7.

Gorman said: "The Belmont race is the plan for Raa Atoll and all going well he will come back and run in the Ascot Gold Cup. He’ll probably have a break after Ascot and will be trained for the Irish St Leger, which Mr Comer sponsors, in September. The Melbourne Cup could also be on the agenda."

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news