Premier Victorian horseman Peter Moody may have all but ruled out an international campaign for Australia’s favourite racehorse Black Caviar this year, but he is preparing to send her young stablemate Hinchinbrook to England for the Royal Ascot features after the colt blitzed a barrier trial on Monday.
Hinchinbrook will head to England next month to tackle the Group races at Royal Ascot
Fastnet Rock colt three-year-old Hinchinbrook earned a trip to Royal Ascot with an impressive one and three-quarter length win over About Ready in an 800m hit-out at Cranbourne this morning.
Hinchinbrook finished in 47.35 seconds, making him the fastest heat winner of the day on the Slow (7) ground at Cranbourne in Victoria, and was ridden by the regular jockey of the unbeaten Black Caviar – Luke Nolen.
Moody confirmed Hinchinbrook will join former star juvenile, the Danny O’Brien-trained Star Witness, on a plane to England on June 1.
“I haven’t spoken to the owners but he went nice enough this morning and I didn’t see anything to say he wouldn’t go,” Moody said.
“I am very happy with him.”
To date Hinchinbrook has raced 14 times producing two wins and seven minor placings for over $590,000 in prize money.
The progressive colt last finished second to boom sprinter Hay List in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 23, which was their fifth elite level assignment this year alone.
Other recent results from Hinchinbrook included his game third to Black Caviar in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March and his third to Eagle Falls in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield back on Blue Diamond Stakes Day.
Moody has nominated Hinchinbrook, transferred from Gerald Ryan’s Sydney stable to Moody in Melbourne earlier this season, for the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot on June 18, with the ultimate international aim being the July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on July 8.
It will be the third visit by Moody to the Royal Ascot after his trips there in 2007 and 2008 with Magnus.
The son of Flying Spur enjoyed a number of good runs overseas, finishing second to fellow Aussie Miss Andretti in the 2007 King’s Stand Stakes and was also runner-up to Takeover Target in Singapore’s Krisflyer International Sprint in 2008 before running eighth in that year’s King’s Stand to Equiano, which was their swansong race.
Meanwhile dual Group 1 winning colt Star Witness is entered for the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot on June 14 and the Golden Jubilee.
Early markets for the King’s Stand Stakes have Star Witness as the $6 favourite.
