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The Archie Watson-trained Brave Emperor is venturing into unknown territory with an ambitious European campaign planned for the versatile three-year-old.
The Archie Watson-trained Brave Emperor is venturing into unknown territory with an ambitious European campaign planned for the versatile three-year-old.
Winner of the "Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes at Kempton in March, Brave Emperor was touted as a possible rare European runner in the American Classic, having accumulated the most points in the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' series.
With travel costs and a tough race expected in the Kentucky Derby, connections chose to swerve the US and instead focused on a European campaign. The three-year-old had demonstrated a willingness to travel when winning the Listed Prix de la Californie at Cagnes-sur-Mer in February, worth nearly £25,000.
Brave Emperor picked up another valuable prize in the Group 3 Grosser Preis der Wohnstatte Krefeld - Dr Busch-Memorial at Krefeld, Germany on the 28th of April, winning impressively by two-and-a-half lengths.
He will now be targeted at the Group 3 Stockholms Stora Pris at Bro Park on the 11th of June.
Tom Palin, representative of Middleham Park Racing said, "We've entered him in a Group Three in Sweden over 1700 metres again. That seems to be a sensible option and a good race for him.
"There's also a German Group One in July for him in Munich over something similar, that nine-and-a-half to 10-furlong trip, Archie feels that would be a good fit for him and I would be inclined to agree.
"We're going to campaign him in Europe and then we can maybe give him a bit of an All-Weather Championship campaign during the winter.
"He's a tough horse and an honest horse who is going to take us to plenty of far-flung places."