The Queen's "great" wisdom into horse fitness has inspired the training of her number one hope for Royal Ascot.
Reach For The Moon, the bookies' favourite for the Hampton Court Stakes, is being prepared for the big meeting by John Gosden in Newmarket.
After the colt sustained an injury last September, time ran out to get him to the Derby in peak shape. His absence meant the Queen was without a runner in the only Flat Classic she has not won as an owner, on the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
Reach For The Moon started his season with a second place at Sandown in May, where he set out to make all the running under Frankie Dettori. The royal fixture was then identified as his next target – and Gosden said thanks to Her Majesty's patient approach, hopes are high he can perform to the best of his ability on June 16.
"The great thing about Her Majesty, both the owner and breeder of the horse – she said 'you do what's right for the horse," Gosden said.
"So it was quite obvious pushing and forcing to get to Epsom was the wrong thing entirely.
"He got a touch tired in the Heron (Stakes, Sandown, May 19) but he ran a lovely race to be second there. I was delighted with that and then we can go on to Ascot and run a mile and a quarter.
"He might well go a mile and a half in time but he just wasn't going to get there (Epsom). We are doing the right thing by the horse, I'm pleased with him and we are looking forward to the Hampton Court."
Reach For The Moon, who had been installed as one of the favourites for the Derby, picked up his injury during a routine canter in Newmarket. Gosden added that his charge spent around three months recuperating at the stud on the Sandringham estate, before he started training again.
"It's a long road back from those sort of things," Gosden added. "It's a great thing that he has come back, it's testament to the horse and the care that he has had. He's quite a character, he likes to play, he has got a lot of spirit about him.
"Let's hope he puts a big run in there and we don't get too wide a draw."
The Queen delighted fans by making an appearance at Royal Ascot last year. Reach For The Moon finished runner-up in the Chesham Stakes, a highlight of the reigning monarch's best ever 12 months for winners.
The Queen's tally reached 36 overall as the runners banked more than £500,000 in prize money. Next week the famous royal silks could also be carried by talented sprinter King's Lynn and three-year-old filly Perfect Alibi.
