G1 test for Astoria and Sanctioned

The regally-bred colt Astoria will line-up with stablemate Sanctioned at Randwick on Saturday with the Godolphin training team confident they are ready to produce performances capable of giving them winning chances in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes.

Both colts had their lead up runs in the Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill two weeks ago, Astoria finishing fifth and Sanctioned second behind Ace High, and trainer James Cummings believes they can step up in the race regarded as the autumn benchmark for middle-distance three-year-olds.

Astoria (Glyn Schofield) had won the G3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle prior to the Gloaming and Cummings is suspicious that the eight-day break between the two races hadn’t suited his colt.

“Astoria switched off last start on the short back up after having an easy week leading into the Gloaming,” the trainer said.

“He has responded to a better preparation for this more important race, his energy levels are right back up and he appears to have gone to another level with the re-application of winkers (cheek pieces) to keep him focused.”

Astoria is from the family of the outstanding producer Eight Carat whose string of champions includes Octagonal, with his dam Segue being a half-sister to the G1 racehorse and stallion Viscount.

“He’s a very talented colt who has a lot to offer. He gets his chance on Saturday in a very good field,” he said.

Sanctioned (Kerrin McEvoy) ran well for second over the 1800m of the Gloaming after looking the likely winner, leaving a slight doubt over the 2000m of the Champion Stakes.

“In five starts to date he’s not shirked the task once. He’s finished in the placings every time,” he said.

“He bumped into colts who are really flying at his past two, so I didn’t walk away too disappointed from those races.

“He’s just going ahead in his own time and if he happens to produce his best performance here, fourth up and in a Group One, I’d be delighted.”