Australia beckons for Scottish after he ran out a clear-cut winner of the Betfred Mobile Gr3 Strensall Stakes at York on Saturday.
Scottish seen winning Listed Steventon Stakes
Bought by Godolphin out of Andrew Balding’s yard earlier in the year and sent to Charlie Appleby with a trip Down Under in mind, those plans were put momentarily on hold when he was a beaten favourite in the Rose of Lancaster at Haydock.
William Buick – very nice ride
William Buick was positive from the off this time, and when Danny Tudhope chose to keep Custom Cut to the far rail, Scottish (5-1) was pointed down the favoured centre of the track and never gave up the advantage.
His nearest rival at the finish was William Haggas’ Yorker, a South African import not seen for over 800 days and who really caught the eye staying on for second to be beaten a length and a quarter. Custom Cut was third.
The favourite, Sir Michael Stoute’s Diploma, owned by the Queen, was very disappointing.
“He came out of his Haydock run well and the form had been franked by the winner in France,” said Appleby.
“We told William to be positive because with the strong tail-wind he’d be hard to peg back.
“He won’t get into the Cox Plate this year so we’ll look at the Caulfield Cup.
“He’s only been beaten twice over a mile and a half when he’s got his ground and one of those was by Highland Reel
“We bought him with Australia in mind and he’s a nice horse to have about the place.”
www.racinguk.com
