Roger Varian: My Cloud and Elmalka updates

Roger Varian reports his Royal Hunt Cup hero My Cloud to be in good form following his Ascot win and is an intended runner in the Group Two Summer Mile at the same venue next month.

The master of Carlburg Stables confirmed the half-brother to Palace Pier is unlikely to run in the International Stakes over 7f at Ascot, for which he has an entry, and would prefer to dip his toe into Stakes company on the round mile.

"It will be his first race around a bend but I think he will cope with it well," said Varian. "He seems to handle fast ground, so I think if we stay in this dry settled period of weather then there's every chance you could see him on 12th July.

"I think a mile is his trip," he continued. "I see no reason to go back to 7f but I also don't see any reason to stretch him out. He's got a tonne of speed and he almost over-travelled through his last race."

Varian said he will also be aiming his 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka at next month's Group One Falmouth Stakes at the July Festival, whilst Musselburgh Listed winner Jabaara will next take in the Listed bet365 Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes over 7f at Chelmsford on Tuesday.

Another big race target is the John Smith's Cup at York, which could be on the agenda for Defiance. "He ran very well on his comeback run and he had quite a long layoff before then. He's a horse we like a lot and he is a possible for York," he said.