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Artistic Star remained unbeaten last night, going two from two winning at Sandown Park in good style and the three-year-old colt could have much bigger assignments ahead of him this season.
Artistic Star remained unbeaten last night, going two from two winning at Sandown Park in good style and the three-year-old colt could have much bigger assignments ahead of him this season.
The son of Galileo, and brother to three winners recorded his debut success last October at Nottingham on soft ground in a 1m maiden where the form has worked out well. He followed up on Tuesday evening at Sandown Park, staying on well to enter the Epsom classic picture when taking the Class Two Darley British EBF Novice Stakes over 1m 2f.
Rob Hornby rode the Ralph Beckett-trained and Jeff Smith-owned colt, justifying favouritism.
The trainer said: "He is a smashing horse. He is a May 27 foal, and he has only just been ready for this now.
"We will see how we go with him, but whatever we do next, we will have a load of sport with him because he is still a horse in the making, I feel.
"Jeff, David (Bowe, racing manager to the owner) and I will have a chat in a fortnight's time and see how we feel.
"We wanted to go to Lingfield (for the Derby Trial) and that opportunity was taken away from us so this was a really good spot for him."
Epsom is not the only feature race entry this three-year-old has. He also has been entered in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot next month with both races over 1m 4f.
Beckett added: "It is not a bad shout, Ascot, as Jessie Harrington had the full-sister (Forbearance) and she was adamant she needed fast ground and so if we did get into our heat of summer the King Edward VII might seem like a target.
"I'd be a little bit concerned it is only two and a half weeks until Epsom and he might just bounce."
Trainer, R M Beckett achieved his first Group 1 triumph in 2008 when Look Here won the Epsom Oaks and won the same event again with Talent in 2013. The stable had classic glory last year with Westover taking the 2022 Irish Derby at The Curragh.