BALLET Concerto could step up to Group company following his victory in the 58th John Smith's Cup at York on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old relished the step up to an extended mile and a quarter on the Knavesmire to land one of the most competitive handicaps in the calendar.

Connections might now look to give him a chance in a higher grade at that distance, with the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on August 12 a possible target.

"He looked good on Saturday and is a progressive horse. He's come back well and Sir Michael is very happy with him," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

"I think a mile and a quarter is his best trip as it makes him travel that bit easier.

"I'm not sure what he'll go for. There aren't many suitable handicaps like the one at York, so do you go up into a Group Three?

"The horse has come back in good shape. I think the Rose of Lancaster could be an option, but we'll leave that in the expert hands of Sir Michael Stoute."

Elsewhere, the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is the likely next port of call for top-class filly Queen's Trust.

Last season's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine was a shade disappointing on her seasonal reappearance at York earlier this summer.

However, she flew home to finish a highly creditable fourth in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Not for the first time, Stoute's filly was slowly away from the stalls in Berkshire and connections are hoping she can rectify that part of the game when she goes back against her own sex on the Sussex Downs.

Chris Richardson, managing director of owner-breeders Cheveley Park Stud, said: "She's in good form and, all being well, she's heading for the Nassau at Goodwood.

"Again she wasn't quickly away at Ascot and ended up too far back before coming with a rattling run.

"It is frustrating, but hopefully she'll get it right one of these days."

It has been a fine season so far for Cheveley Park, with several horses either scoring or threatening to score at Pattern level.

Another Stoute inmate, Autocratic, bounced back from a poor comeback run at Newmarket to win the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May and he is set to return later this month.

"He's in good order and the plan with him is the York Stakes (July 29)," said Richardson.

"He came out of Sandown well and we'll just creep along with him.

"We were disappointed with him in the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket and he scoped dirty afterwards.

"It wasn't a surprise to see him win at Sandown, but obviously we were a bit winded after Newmarket, so it was nice to see him go and do it."

Richard Fahey's Dance Diva stretched her unbeaten record to three in the Listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket at the start of July and is now enjoying some downtime.

Richardson said: "We've not made any real plans for her. She had three fairly quick runs so we said we'd give her a bit of a break and treat her like a good filly.

"We purposely bypassed Royal Ascot to run in the Empress Stakes. A lot of people concentrate on Ascot and kind of forget that race is there, so we decided we'd aim for it and the plan worked well.

"The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes was always coming a bit soon, so we'll give her chance and see where we go. She is in the Lowther at York (August 24)."