6/28/12 - Surrey-based trainer Robert Mills has confirmed that he hopes to saddle three runners at the forthcoming Royal Ascot fixture, two of them in the stamina sapping staying contests, the Ascot Stakes and Queen Alexandra Stakes.

The son of the late Terry Mills, who is most fondly remembered for his high-class miler Where Or When, Robert Mills is hoping that his Monterey will be well enough to make a quick reappearance and tackle the two-and-a-half miles Ascot Stakes Handicap.

He picked up an all important penalty for a win at Newmarket last Saturday when beating Danvilla by a length-and-a-quarter off a mark of 85.

His winners’ penalty should now see the son of Montjeu creep into the bottom of the weights for Tuesday’s contest where he will look to upset Betfair Royal Ascot 2012  betting odds.

Although the Ascot event comes quicker than is normally ideal for his horse, Mills has made it clear that if Monterey is giving him the signs that he has recovered from his exertions at HQ he will let him take his chance.

Mills’ smart stayer Petara Bay is all set to run in the final race of the five day fixture the two-and-three-quarter-mile Queen Alexandra Stakes, the longest race on the British Flat racing calendar.

Owned by motor racing supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Petara Bay hasn’t been seen out so far this term having ended his season early in 2011 after putting up a fine performance to win a well-contested staying handicap at Glorious Goodwood.

Mills’ third runner of the fixture is expected to be Ewell Place, another yet to see a racecourse this term having done well as a juvenile last season and winning a Folkestone maiden on his third start, before finishing a close third to the useful Bogart in the highly valuable DBS Yearling Sales contest at the York Ebor fixture in August.

Although he has plenty to find on the formbook with the principals in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, Mills is hopeful that the three-year-old will give a very good account of himself at this prestigious horse racing event.