Scott’s stable star has enjoyed a fine season, the highlight of which was a 10-length victory on his favoured soft ground in the Coronation Cup while the four-year-old also filled the runner-up spot in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Victorious Forever-owned New Bay colt has not finished outside of the top three since winning the Preis von Bayern in Munich in November last year and continues to go from strength to strength, having taking his career earnings in excess of £2million.

Soctt said: “It’s been a good year and one I will never forget professionally. My family in particular have been very supportive and Bay City has been incredible.

“He had a nice break over the summer and his autumn season has been phenomenal. He’s been an amazing horse since the outset after Clive Washbourn stepped up to the plate and let us buy him, for a lot of money at the time.

“Shaikh Nasser has been very brave with the decision-making process and left it to me. He’s given us a platform from which to showcase ourselves and at the moment we’re in a purple patch with Bay City, Wimbledon Hawkeye and Caballo (De Mar). We’ve been able to get our hands on some top-quality horses and good stock.”

He added: “It was always the plan to come here. He’s a very unique horse with a great mind and a great constitution.

“He’s been a very unique character and a very professional horse who has improved as he’s got older.

“He showed his well-being going for the Champion Stakes after the Arc and he didn’t bat an eyelid. After the Arc there wasn’t much time, but seeing him this morning we know we made the right decision.

“We were hoping to get the rain (at Ascot), but it came a week later. He ran a very good race in which he (Oisin Murphy) put his stick down a furlong out and let him coast down to the line, achieving the best possible position behind two champion 10-furlong horses. He came out of it good and is back on his racing weight.

“He won a seven-furlong Group Two as a two-year-old on fast ground, but he’s outstanding on heavy and almost unbeatable.

“As he’s got older his action has flattened off, but he should flick the top off the surface here.

“I spoke to all the top trainers and jockeys out here and all of them said it would be a lovely racing surface. It will be interesting to see how it rides on Friday.

“He’s drawn widest, but there’s not likely to be a lot of pace on the inside and if Oisin breaks cleanly, as he has been, he could be able to get a good early position.

“I have no doubt that turning in we will be in the picture.”