It was a great afternoon at Royal Ascot for those concerned with the the Linda Perratt stable when her Big Timer took the honours in the Wokingham Stakes. However, it appears that success came at a price.
It was a great afternoon at Royal Ascot for those concerned with the the Linda Perratt stable when her Big Timer took the honours in the Wokingham Stakes. However, it appears that success came at a price.
The animal suffered a setback and now the Carluke trainer is hoping her boy will be ready in time for a shot at the Ayr Gold Cup next month. "He had a little injury after he came back from Ascot and he's just had his second canter this morning so, hopefully, we will try and see if we can get to the Ayr Gold Cup with him," said Perratt yesterday.
"He seems okay now so it's fingers crossed. He went well and that will probably be his next run. He just had a strange gait behind and looked like he had locked a joint.
"We're back now and hopefully we'll get him back for the end of the campaign. That's the main thing."
On the subject of injury, Gerard Butler's filly, Silver Pivotal, is finally nearing a return to the track. She has been missing from action since finishing an unlucky second to Hattan in the Winter Derby in March and could make her return in the Yorkshire Oaks later this month.
Silver Pivotal beat Promising Lead at York last year, form which has been boosted Sir Michael Stoute's filly winning at the highest level this season. "We are getting there with her," said Butler. "She did a nice bit of work at the weekend and Gary Coffey, owner Renata Jacobs' racing manager, was there to see her and we were all very pleased with how she went.
"We'll aim for that time around the Yorkshire Oaks August 21. Whether she runs in it we'll decide when we have to, but we are on course for that time for her to get back on turf. She's a very nice filly and we've had a tricky time with her but, thankfully, she is coming back to herself now."
Butler went on to say Baharah is to step up markedly in class for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 6. The four-year-old showed an impressive turn of foot to beat Barshiba in a Listed race at Ascot last time and is unbeaten when ridden by Richard Hughes.
"She has come out of her race very well and she'll head for the Matron Stakes in September," said the trainer. "When she disappointed at Royal Ascot, it is was because we ran her too quick after her run at Epsom.
"We knew what we were doing but we didn't get away with it so she had a nice break before her last run. She'll have another break now before the Matron Stakes and then we'll look at the Sun Chariot after that."
Elsewhere, Michael Jarvis is leaning away from sending improving sprinter Ancien Regime to York for a shot at the Nunthorpe Stakes on August 22. The colt landed a Group 3 at Sandown on his last start, beating Prime Defender in the process.
Before that, he performed admirably with a big weight when third in the Betfair Sprint at York. "He's in good form, he's just had a little bit of a break," said Jarvis. "It's not decided whether he will run in the Nunthorpe yet. He will be fit to run, but we are having a look at options. It's a big step up from a Group 3 to the Nunthorpe, but the five-furlong horses might not be as good as the six-furlong horses."
