Equinties - Lockinge Saturday

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HEADLINE ROUNDUP

ASCOT HORSE SNAPPED UP

One of the most exciting 2yo’s of this season is Joseph O’Brien’s COWARDOFTHECOUNTY who won impressively on debut at the Curragh.

The form has worked out as the second, WHISTLEJACKET (LITTLE BIG BEAR’s full brother), has won since, and now COWARDOFTHECOUNTY will be sporting new silks on his next start repping the colours of new ambitious owners.

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables and other American-based partners are now the owners of this exciting two-year-old, and he’s set to contest the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on his next start.

Trainer O’Brien said: “We were really happy with Cowardofthecounty's debut. He was working like a really smart colt and it was nice to see him go and do it on the track. The form of the race has worked out really well and he will go straight to the Coventry.

“Really excited to have Mrs Banke, Mr [Tracy] Farmer and Mr [John] Oxley in the ownership group. He is our first horse for Stonestreet and Mr Farmer and obviously we've had success with Mr Oxley in the past. Hopefully it is a long-lasting partnership and Cowardofthecounty can be a special colt for us this season.”

More: Joseph O'Brien's Big Royal Ascot Player Snapped Up By Stonestreet Stables

NO ASCOT

Yesterday, one of the most impressive performances of the day came in the biggest race of the day as GIAVELLOTTO won the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup for the second year in a row.

TOWER OF LONDON probably found the trip a bit too sharp, VAUBAN ran perfectly fine, and GREGORY was a staying-on third, so all seems well with the form going forward.

In typical years, one would look towards the Ascot Gold Cup after the Yorkshire Cup, though trainer Marco Botti is keen to miss the Royal meeting again and has highlighted a potential race to work back from.

He said: "We've tried two miles several times and I'm not saying he doesn't stay, as he ran well in Saudi Arabia, but it does stretch him a little bit and I think the Gold Cup trip [2m4f] is too far for him.

"I'll have to discuss it with the owners, but it was the plan not to go to Ascot. I know the Irish St Leger is not until September and sometimes the ground gets softer, but it's a race we considered last year and didn't go for and I would say that could be the target, which we'll work back from."

As for GREGORY, the Gold Cup is firmly on his agenda, though there has been no news on last year’s winner COURAGE MON AMI.

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