Euro Charline has arrived in the USA in excellent order ahead of her bid for a repeat success in the G1 Beverly D. Stakes (1900m) at Arlington this Saturday, August 15.
“The flight direct from Stansted on Saturday evening was a good one – she travelled really well, ate and drank as we had wanted her to and arrived full of beans,” travelling stable representative Claire Ricks said. “She even kicked me on arrival into quarantine.”
Euro Charline (4f Myboycharlie – Eurolink Artemis by Common Grounds) created history when defeating older mares in last year’s Beverly D. Stakes. The British bred daughter of Vinery shuttler Myboycharlie opened up a commanding advantage in the straight and then held off a late charge from the favourite Stephanie’s Kitten to win by three-quarters of a length.
“She did her best piece of work this year before flying out,” trainer Marco Botti said. “She seems in great form. With Ryan Moore injured and Andrea Atzeni banned she won’t have one of her regular riders but Jose Lezcano has been in good touch for the owners Team Valor.”
Euro Charline has raced just twice since her ground-breaking victory in Chicago twelve months ago. She went down fighting behind French sensation Solow in the G1 Dubai Turf in March and, after being controversially withdrawn from the G1 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, chased home Amazing Maria in the G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last month.
Myboycharlie sired a promising juvenile winner on Monday when Cheikeljack scored by 6 lengths in the Prix de la Vez (1400m) at Le Lion-D’angers. Not surprisingly, trainer Henri Alex-Pantall was full of praise for his colt on debut and suggested a mile might not be out of the question for his new star.
Cheikeljack (2c Myboycharlie – Senderlea by Giant’s Causeway) is a half-brother to five winners and their dam is a half-sister to the stakes winners Quest For Honor (Highest Honor) and Astrologie (Polish Precedent). It’s the family of Mtoto, a Group 1 winner of the Eclipse Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Myboycharlie (Danetime) was Champion French 2YO in 2007 following a Group 1 victory in the Prix Morny at Deauville. Vinery stands him for an $11,000 (inc GST) fee.