Equinties - Aussie's staying up

Gm Equinauts

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Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

AUSSIE RAID

We all enjoyed ASFOORA’s performance in the King Charle’s III Stakes last week, right?

Of course, if you backed one of the placed horses, you may not share this same affection, but there’s something inherently cool about an Aussie sprinter coming over to Ascot and winning.

And if you thought the 5yo by FLYING ARTIE would be straight back home, you thought wrong as connections have plotted a British sprinting route for her this season.

Managing a week long hangover, trainer Henry Dwyer said: "We've always thought the flatter tracks will suit her better. She's going to be meeting the same horses at Goodwood [in the King George Qatar Stakes] and York [in the Nunthorpe] and they'll have a hard job beating if she's in the same form on a track more conducive to us.

"There are six weeks between Ascot and Goodwood and it's a good chance to give her a break in the sunshine and I think she'll really benefit from it. Goodwood fits in well for a tune-up for the Nunthorpe.

"It would be great to get to the US if we can, but we'll get through the Nunthorpe first. There are eight weeks between York and the US and she could go for the Abbaye as it's four weeks before America. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge before then though."

Best get those headaches tablet ready, Henry! Looks like the part ain’t stopping.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/shell-be-mighty-hard-to-beat-summer-schedule-mapped-out-for-aussie-royal-ascot-ace-asfoora-a0UUT9A86bPx/ 

MULLINS SPLASHES

Day one of the 50th Derby Sale took place yesterday and Willie Mullins fought off the opposition to take home three of the top four lots.

The sale was headlined by Mullins and Harold Kirk’s purchase of BOEDIC, a NO RISK AT ALL three-year-old who is out of the useful cross country mare BAYADENE.

Why did Kirk have his eye on this one? Well, he said: "This horse was my top one for today, he really is my number one and by one of my favourite sires.

"His dam was a very good cross-country mare, which we love as we've had some very good horses out of cross-country mares. He's a stunning individual, has fantastic movement and he just ticked every box. Every time I saw him I loved him more. He's for an owner in the yard."

SUNSHINEWAY, a half to the Listed winner STYLEDARGENT, is also on his way to Closutton while a CRYSTAL OCEAN gelding from the family of PINGSHOU and MAGIC OF LIGHT will head the same way.

As for the other horse in the top four lots that didn’t go to Mullins, Mags O’Toole picked up BOUFFON HAS, a DOCTOR DINO half-brother to BOTOX HAS, for €170,000.

There is no confirmation on who O’Toole bought him for.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/champion-trainer-mullins-restocking-with-the-pick-of-derby-sale-lots-led-by-175000-auction-topper-aEmek9z0doqc/ 

LOCAL BOY IN THE BIG ONE?

When talking about the Northumberland Plate in yesterday’s newsletter, we briefly touched upon TASHKAN, but he wasn’t our pick in the verdict.

However, in a piece with the Racing Post yesterday, Geordie native Brian Ellison believes his duo of horses for this year’s renewal – TASHKAN and ONESMOOTHOPERATOR – give him the best chance of winning the prestigious race that he’s never had.

The one, probably, with his best chance is the latter as he has been kept away from the track since April when he won a Southwell handicap on the all-weather. On his chance, Ellison said: "Smoothie [Onesmoothoperator] is in great form and his form figures up at Newcastle are quite good. He has a good form line with Pledgeofallegiance who won at Royal Ascot last week.

"We ran in the race two years ago but he'd had too much racing going into it. This time we've kept him off since April and he's in great form. He loves the track and I'd say the quicker it rides the better for him."

As for TASHKAN, the recent weather has been against him, though Ellison believes he is still in rude health and could have a part to play if he handles the surface.

Adding the Northumberland Plate to his CV would certainly be something to celebrate for a trainer who has won the Eider and the Gosforth Park Cup.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/this-is-my-best-chance-of-finally-winning-it-brian-ellison-aims-to-become-a-local-hero-in-the-northumberland-plate-aMgox3f9kt5l/

RISK ON

No luck in running yesterday for Cox’s at Salisbury but it was nice to see our new hire Norm back on the scoreboard with LUTHER at 7/1.

14.00 GULF LEGEND

Strongly fancied in the first race of the day. Shop around for best price if not using exchange - varied between 7/4 and 11/8. Ferguson has them lined up today at Newmarket too, STARSHINE LEGEND looking good for it. Hoping the yard has a good day!

20.15 KINEMATICA

Looks a classic SMP plot job but hella drift making it a small value play here. Haggas’ fave not setting the greatest standard so 11/2 for potential plot job in classic SMP style is too good to leave. Small win.

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