Roger Teal sets out Royal Ascot plan for Dancing Gemini after Lockinge loss

Dancing Gemini, who was narrowly beaten by Lead Artist in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, will face the surprise victor and Rosallion in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot’s Royal meeting in June.

If successful, the colt’s four-year-old form will match that of 2023’s Queen Anne winner, Charyn, as the two horses won the Listed Doncaster Mile and Group 2 bet365 Mile before being beaten in the Lockinge on the way to Royal Ascot.

Lambourn trainer Roger Teal, trainer of the son of Camelot, is confident of his charge’s chances in June, speaking on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday that “it was a fantastic run” and reporting that “he’s taken [the race] very well, there’s not a bother on him. He’s eaten up and is fresh and well.”

Only beaten a neck, Teal says his colt “lost nothing in defeat, really, just prize money!”

“I can’t help but feel a little bit gutted to get beaten by so small a margin, but hopefully he’ll have his day soon enough,” said Teal.

“It’ll be straight to the rematch in the Queen Anne.”

On the similarities between Dancing Gemini and Charyn’s four-year-old campaigns, Teal added:

“I had hoped he wouldn’t copy Charyn so literally!

“But, it bodes well and we hope we can go and get our revenge.”

“He is very, very smart and I’m sure he’s going to have his day.”

The Queen Anne Stakes is the opening contest of Royal Ascot, and will be held this year on Tuesday 17th June at 2.30pm.