Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G3 Finest Surprise S. at Newbury on Apr. 18, will back up in the G3 Al Rayyan S. there on May 15. Originally, the 4-year-old was tagged to go straight to the June 4 G1 Coronation Cup S., but trainer William Haggas determined that his charge was so fresh and well, another run was needed.
“I was going to wait for the Coronation Cup, but he's too well so he's going to run next Saturday in a Group 3 back at Newbury on Lockinge day,” said Haggas. “That will give us three weeks to Epsom. He worked beautifully this [Wednesday] morning. He's a very impressive horse at home.
“He wouldn't go over the top [if he didn't run at Newbury], but he might get a bit fresh and silly. He needs racing, that horse, he didn't race much last year. I don't like carrying penalties in stakes races, but this race is a good fit–I don't want to go further up in trip for the Yorkshire Cup and I think the Coronation Cup is the right race. He's very powerful and everything is easy for him, we'll see how good he is soon enough but at the moment he's an impressive horse.”
Haggas stablemate My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), although being considered for the G1 Lockinge on May 15, is not a guaranteed runner. He won the G3 Earl Of Sefton S. at Newmarket on Apr. 14 in his latest outing.
Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Haggas said, “I'm debating about him. I really want to go for the [G1] Prix d'Ispahan on May 30 and I can't do both. I want to go up in trip with him and he's in the Prince of Wales's and I'll put him in the Eclipse. If he's going to improve enough to be a proper horse, he's got to do it going up in trip. He was good at Newmarket over nine and I'm just not sure taking on Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is the right way round. I think if we go for a nine-furlong Group 1 in France that fits better, we've got to make him a stallion.”
Rounding out the Haggas trio is the multiple Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who has returned in good order from his latest Australian sojourn.
Added Haggas, on Addeybb, “I'm not going to turn him away and I'm going to get him ready for the Prince of Wales's [S. at Royal Ascot on June 16], I think.”
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