Kikkuli's connections feel he is ready for the step up to the Group One level

Kikkuli, the younger brother of the legendary Frankel, is gearing up for his first shot at Group One success in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville this Sunday.

Trained by Harry Charlton, Kikkuli has a lot to live up to with his lineage as a son of Kingman and a half-brother to one of the greatest racehorses of all time. However, he has already shown promise by winning his maiden race at Newmarket in April and finishing a close second in the Heron Stakes at Sandown and the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

After his impressive performances, Kikkuli's connections feel he is ready for the step up to the Group One level and has targeted the seven-furlong Prix Jean Prat as his next challenge.

“I think, so long as Harry is happy with him in the morning, the plan is for him to go to Deauville. He bounced out of Ascot in good shape and the owners are keen to roll the dice,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon. “He obviously had a big run in Ascot, and we’re looking forward to seeing him again. The form of the Jersey stacks up, he obviously pushed Haatem all the way, and there was River Tiber and plenty of other very good horses behind him. Seven furlongs was perfect in Ascot, Deauville is a nice, fair track and hopefully, the ground is good. With his pedigree, if he was to clinch a Group One it would be a great result.”