Stoute keen on Conduit bid

Sir Michael Stoute believes Conduit is approaching something like his best form ahead of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.Last year's St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf hero took third behind Sea The Stars and Rip Van Winkle in the Coral-Eclipse, but Stoute feels he is a fitter horse now and expects the return to a mile and a half to see him in his best light."I don't think we've had him at his peak yet this year and I'm hoping he's the sort of horse that comes to his best in the second half of the season. He was definitely not quite there for the Eclipse and I think he's in better shape for Saturday. Whether he is at his full peak, I'm not sure," Stoute told At The Races."We finally won the Leger with Conduit but more importantly he won the Breeders' Cup Turf. He won the Leger because he's a relaxed horse and that enabled him to get the trip, but I think a mile and a half is his best distance.Stoute has a very capable second string to his bow in the shape of Tartan Bearer, who was beaten just half a length in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot."He had a long time off after the Irish Derby last year where he had a very bad run, got interfered with and he came back with a bad ringworm infection," Stoute continued."I contemplated bringing him back for the Champion Stakes but I decided to leave him alone and, like Conduit, we started him off over a mile and quarter this season as well."He ran so well and I thought rather than go for the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot, we'll go for the more important race - the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. He only got beaten half a length but he is now running at his best trip."The two horses have never done a serious piece of work together. Conduit would not be spectacular at home but a little bit more generous than Tartan Bearer, who leans towards the lazy side. My job is to get them there in the best possible shape and I don't think there is much between the two of them."Stoute also saddles Coronation Cup hero Ask and added: "The more ease in the ground, the more favourable it will be for him. If the ground is safe he'll run and I think it probably will be safe. Pat Fahey (owner) is keen for him to go and it's a logical race to run in after the Coronation Cup."