'What it's all about' - Tregoning relishing Mohaather's clash with Palace Pier

Marcus Tregoning has welcomed a potential showdown between his Sussex Stakes hero Mohaather and Sunday's Jacques le Marois winner Palace Pier at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day.

Following the impressive victory of the unbeaten John Gosden-trained three-year-old at Deauville, there was a clamour for the pair to face off to decide the top miling honours, and that tantalising match-up could come in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on October 17.

"Palace Pier won well on very difficult ground and proved he's a very nice horse," said Tregoning. "Getting these good horses to meet is what's it's all about and we'll see what's what then.

"It's always very difficult [on Champions Day] as the ground can go like it did last year and become more of a slog, and that would be the only question mark about the day.

"Sometimes it can be okay and let's just hope we can have it on good ground and make it a bit more worthwhile a race."

Last year Mohaather finished fifth in the QEII behind winner King Of Change, but he was coming back off a break following an injury-interrupted campaign on that occasion.

After a luckless run in the Queen Anne on his seasonal return, the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned four-year-old made amends in the Summer Mile at Ascot again before flying home late at Goodwood to win a race viewed by many as the best of the season.

It was also Tregoning's first Group 1 success since Sir Percy won the Derby in 2006.

Palace Pier: impressive winner of the Prix Jacques le Marois on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Although next month's Prix du Moulin is an option – a race mentioned as a possible target for Palace Pier – Mohaather is more likely to be saved for Ascot.

"He's come out of Goodwood fine and it looks like he might be having a long break now," said Tregoning.

"We haven't decided what we're going to do about the Moulin, as it's getting very tricky with the quarantine restrictions, and it's far more likely we'll wait for Ascot. We might have the entry [in France] and see what happens as things can change."

Palace Pier career details

Read more:

Who would win out of Mohaather and Palace Pier? (£)

Unbeaten Palace Pier powers clear in Marois with QEII on the agenda

Is Prix Jacques le Marois winner Palace Pier the best miler in Europe?

'He's capable of winning lots of Group 1s' - Mohaather given French option

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