Charming Thought & Buratino Set For Hackwood
Charming Thought continues his comeback in the G3 bet 365 Hackwood Stakes, with Buratino also lining up for Godolphin in the six-furlong contest at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, July 16.
Time/Date - 15.35hrs local time/Saturday, July 16, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Newbury/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f
Charming Thought continues his comeback in the G3 bet 365 Hackwood Stakes, with Buratino also lining up for Godolphin in the six-furlong contest at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, July 16.
Four-year-old Charming Thought (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) kept on well to be fourth on his first appearance for more than a year and a half in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Cathedral Stakes over the same distance at Salisbury on June 12.
The Oasis Dream colt was one of Europe's top juveniles in 2014, ending a highly-progressive campaign with victory in the G1 Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes, also over six furlongs, at Newmarket.
Buratino (Mark Johnston/Robert Havlin), a three-year-old son of Exceed And Excel, was runner-up in last year's Middle Park Stakes and enjoyed four successes during 2015, including a decisive victory in the six-furlong G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He has made three appearances so far this year, most recently when coming home seventh on Tapeta in the G3 Betfred Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs at Newcastle on June 25.
Charlie Appleby said: "I was very pleased with Charming Thought's reappearance after a long break.
"He has done well since the Salisbury race and I expect he will give a good account of himself.
"Ideally, we can look at races over seven furlongs after this outing."
Mark Johnston commented: "Buratino has appeared very well throughout this season but we have been desperately looking for a race where we can remove all of the variables.
"We are hoping for proper fast ground at Newbury because that seems to be the one variable that has been missing in all of his starts so far this season, including at Newcastle, which can ride as quite a soft surface.
"If we see the real Buratino turn up, then he will definitely be involved in the finish."
Charming Thought, drawn 10, and Buratino, in stall seven, meet 11 rivals in the Hackwood Stakes, including G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint fourth The Tin Man and dual G2 runner-up Ibn Malik.
Elsewhere on Saturday's card at Newbury, G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes third Scottish (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) lines up in the 10-furlong Listed bet365 Stakes (15.00hrs local time) and takes on seven opponents.
Charming Thought wins the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket © www.godolphin.com
