Ascot test is ‘natural progression’ for Twaasol

Ashley Iveson
July 24, 2020 11:30 am

Burrows’ unbeaten colt moving up in trip and class.

Owen Burrows is looking forward to seeing Twaasol put his unbeaten record on the line in the BetfredTV Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Something of a surprise winner on his racecourse debut at Windsor in mid-June, the Adaay colt proved that victory was no fluke by following up in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Derby day – a race won by Pinatubo 12 months ago.

Twaasol steps up in distance and class for this weekend’s seven-furlong Listed contest, and Burrows is keeping fingers crossed his youngster will prove up to the task.

He said: “We’ve been very happy with him since Epsom, and this is the natural progression for him – running in Listed company.

“It looks as if the step up to seven furlongs will suit him. It looks a good race – and we should learn a bit more about him, hopefully.”

Twaasol created a big impression at Epsom (Edward Whitaker)

Twaasol is set to face nine rivals, with John Gosden’s maiden Saeiqa arguably setting the standard, having finished third in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Other contenders include Roger Varian’s Superlative Stakes fourth Saint Lawrence and once-raced maiden winners Chindit and Cobh – trained by Richard Hannon and Clive Cox respectively.

A field of 20 runners have been declared for the fiercely competitive Moet & Chandon International Stakes, with Roger Charlton’s Blue Mist the likely favourite following his luckless run in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting.

Jamie Osborne has claimed this prize twice in recent years, with Field Of Dream in 2012 and Raising Sand 12 months ago, and appears to have another leading contender in course-and-distance winner Cliffs Of Capri.

“He’s been running pretty consistently this year and ran a good race at the Royal meeting last time (fourth in the Buckingham Palace Handicap),” said Osborne.

Cliffs Of Capri was a winner on King George day in 2018 (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s always going to be vulnerable to less exposed animals – but as long as he gives his running, he’s one of the horses in the race with a proper chance.

“He’s won twice at Ascot and appears to save some of his best performances for when he runs there, so fingers crossed.”

Other hopefuls include the Charlie Fellowes-trained Silver Wokingham winner Chiefofchiefs, Mark Johnston’s pair of Vale Of Kent and Cardsharp and the hat-trick seeking Gin Palace from Eve Johnson Houghton’s yard.

Four-time winner Habub is a big price for the Burrows team following a disappointing campaign thus far.

“Unfortunately he’s very badly handicapped,” said the Lambourn-based trainer.

“He ran well in a couple of good all-weather handicaps last year, and he’s paying the price for it.

“He’s not going to come down the weights standing in the box, so we’ve got to run him. You can put a line through his last run at Royal Ascot, because the ground was too soft for him and he was drawn on the wrong side.

“He is in good form, and we’re happy with him. But he needs some relief (in the ratings), I think.”