Holler Sparkles In Royal Ascot Trial
Godolphin's outstanding Australian colt Holler showed his Royal Ascot credentials were in order with a strong trial at Randwick on Friday, May 20.
Godolphin's outstanding Australian colt Holler showed his Royal Ascot credentials were in order with a strong trial at Randwick on Friday, May 20.
Holler (John O'Shea/James McDonald) cruised around the steeple grass under minimum pressure from his rider James McDonald finishing second in the 1050m barrier trial and pulling up "clean and well".
"That was all I wanted him to do, have a nice hit-out and stay out of trouble," said his trainer John O'Shea.
"He's got a lot of residual fitness, he'll have another gallop in about a week which will leave us a bit to work with when we get to England."
O'Shea and Godolphin Australia managing director Henry Plumptre are favouring the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes over Ascot's straight six furlong course as Holler's UK target.
"We're looking at following the same course as with Brazen Beau last year and go for the Diamond Jubilee," Plumptre said.
"It's a solid six furlongs but he's won at G1 level in Australia at 1300m (6-1/2 furlongs) so we think he'll be best suited at that trip."
Regular rider James McDonald who will partner the colt at the Royal meeting agreed: "The 1200m looks the race for him, it gives him the chance to be right on the pace which is where he likes to be."
McDonald, who guided Holler to his G1 Canterbury Stakes win at Randwick in March, was also unequivocal about the colt's ability to measure up to Europe's best sprinters.
"Absolutely no doubt," McDonald said.
Holler is due to continue the Australian end of his preparation with a gallop between races at the Randwick meeting on May 28 and is scheduled to leave Sydney on June 2.
He will complete his UK preparation from Charlie Appleby's Moulton Paddocks stable at Newmarket with O'Shea due to arrive a week before the Diamond Jubilee which is run on Saturday, June 18.
Holler is a three-year-old son of Commands out of the Strategic mare Shouts.
His four wins from 11 starts include the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick in which he beat older horses, the G2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley and the G3 Red Anchor Stakes at the same track.
At his most recent run he was beaten a nose in the G1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Holler will be attempting to become the fourth Australian-bred winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the equal richest race at the Royal meeting, following the victories of Choisir in 2003, Starspangledbanner in 2007 and Black Caviar in 2012.
The Godolphin-owned, Australian-trained Brazen Beau finished second in 2015 while another Australian sprinter, Takeover Target, was placed in both 2006 and 2007.
