Astern Set For TJ Tilt

By Brad Gray
 
Godolphin take a team of a dozen into Day 1 of The Championships but the one John O’Shea will be desperate to see succeed is boom young sprinter Astern who lines up in the Group One Darley TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

A stud career beckons for the three-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt who took out the Group One Golden Rose last year in stunning fashion.

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Astern at trackwork

“From gate four I reckon he’ll box seat in a race where there doesn’t look to be a lot of speed,” said O’Shea.
 
“Ideally in the (wet) ground, it’s best to have had a run somewhere, which he hasn’t had but he’s a happy horse and a fit horse. He’ll jump out and put himself into the race.
 
“We just have to hope the rain doesn’t come because if it got to heavy, we wouldn’t run but on a fair surface he gets a wonderful chance to be competitive.”
 
Fellow three-year-old Russian Revolution, who recently recorded an impressive Galaxy victory, shapes as Astern’s biggest obstacle according to O’Shea.

“He’s met Russian Revolution previously and been able to get past him but I think he’s the horse to beat.”
 
“We’re happy with Astern and whatever he does on Saturday, he’ll improve a lot.”
 
Astern is likely to tackle the All Aged Stakes on April 15 as his second-up assignment.
 
 Check out the fields for Day 1 of The Championships here