3 minute read

Marco Botti is leaning towards making the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes the next target for Euro Charline following her brave effort in defeat at Meydan on Saturday.

Although plans remain fluid for the five-year-old, the Newmarket handler has the mile Group One prize at Newbury on May 14 as a preferred option.

The Grade One-winning mare was narrowly denied a second top-level success at the weekend when going down by half a length to the Ryan Moore-ridden Japanese raider Real Steel in the Dubai Turf.

Botti said: "Euro Charline ran a big race and I don't think there is any more I could have done with her. The winner is a very good horse, that probably stays further as well.

"I know she was running on, but I don't think she was going to get past him. It was a very good performance for a mare at that level.

"On form she was a 25-1 shot as she had finished second behind Very Special, but I knew she would come on a lot for the run and if things went right that she would be in the frame.

"I've got to discuss a plan with the the owners Team Valor. She has been invited to go to Hong Kong but my gut feeling is she won't go there, but she will have an entry in the Lockinge and the Middleton Stakes.

"She is back in the stable now and she seems to have taken it really well, but we just want to have her back a bit before we regroup.

"In my opinion the Lockinge is definitely a race I would consider carefully and it would probably be my preference."