A review of the action from Ascot on Friday, where Euro Charline showed class and tenacity to book a trip to the USA.
Marco Botti: On the mark with Euro Charline
One trip to the USA had already been thwarted due to travel difficulties but Euro Charline should be crossing the Atlantic next month after a tenacious victory from the front in the Woodcote Stud EBF Stallions Valiant Stakes at Ascot.
Marco Botti’s filly, who is owned by the American-based Team Valor syndicate, has been earning her corn in Britain and had finished fifth in the 1000 Guineas before staying on for third in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting.
This one-mile Listed event looked a suitable spot for the even-money favourite, who dictated under Andrea Atzeni and looked under threat from Kiyoshi at the furlong marker before quickening away again and establishing a length-and-a-half gap at the line.
Botti said: “We weren’t sure about the pace, so we decided to keep it simple and let her bowl along.
“To be honest, this was plan B as we were looking to go to Saratoga for a Grade Two, but the owner wasn’t happy with the shipping so we stayed here.
“I’ll have to speak to the owner, but it’s possible she could to Arlington for the Beverly D. She won’t mind another furlong.”
The Grade One Beverly D Stakes has been won by British raiders I’m A Dreamer and Dank for the last two years and could also be the plan for Kiyoshi’s stablemate Just The Judge.
Trainer Charlie Hills said: “Just The Judge could go to America. I’m pleased with Kiyoshi.
“She travelled really nicely and it was a better run. She could go for the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster and hopefully stay in training next season.”
Hills bagged himself a winner in the next race when Forgotten Hero (6/1) saved a powerful finish in the John Guest Handicap.
“He ran nicely first time out and seemed a bit more settled,” said the trainer. “We might look at the Cambridgeshire.”
Maid In Rio has a more imminent engagement, booking her place for next week’s Goodwood Stakes when taking the John Guest Brown Jack Stakes by nine lengths.
Like a typical improving Mark Johnston stayer, the Captain Rio filly was taking her recent record to five wins from her last six starts.
After bolting up from the front at Newmarket a week ago, it was the same again for the 5/2 favourite with Silvestre de Sousa easing up long before she passed the line.
Twelve months ago, stablemate Broxbourne had landed both events for the stable and Johnston said: “We were originally worried she wouldn’t get in at Goodwood, she’s right down the bottom of the weights but there aren’t too many runners in the two-mile-five race and she gets a penalty.
“Although she’s a Captain Rio, there’s stamina on the dam’s side and she’s done really well when stepped up in trip.”
Malabar was back at Ascot in rather different circumstances to open her account in the John Guest EBF Stallions Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The last time Mick Channon’s juvenile had been at the Berkshire track, she had finished a terrific fourth in the Albany Stakes.
Sent off the 8/15 favourite under Willy Twiston-Davies, Malabar was ridden confidently but had to see off a strong challenge from Mistrusting before pulling a length and three-quarters away.
Channon said: “I was tempted to run her at Sandown yesterday (in the Listed Star Stakes) but this looked a good race for her.
“She should have won first time at Haydock and I really wanted to get a win into her.
“She’s in the Moyglare at the Curragh, then there’s Goodwood (Prestige Stakes). She has lots of options.”
Bronze Maquette (3/1) and Jimmy Fortune edged out Anastazia by a neck in the Mitie Total Security Management Nursery, while an exciting finish to the Vartan Ravenscroft October Club Charity Handicap saw Robert Cowell’s Iffranesia (13/2) seeing off Secret Missile.
Money back if the favourite wins the first race at York on Saturday!