Godolphin’s Australian boss Henry Plumptre has warned Astern could be vulnerable in Saturday’s Darley T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m), believing the three-year-old colt will be better suited second-up in the All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Astern’s time as a racehorse is limited, with Plumptre indicating his future as a stallion is likely to commence at the conclusion of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Plumptre’s caution stems from Astern’s lack of match practice due to niggling issues, which have ultimately kept him from racing so far this year.
“You would have to be cautious about Saturday, it is a good TJ, it is a signature race and it attracts a good field and it is public knowledge that we’ve had complications with him this preparation, like we did last preparation,” he said.
“He has been prone to little viral issues, which have not been enough to stop him but just things you have to tinker with and he has to be treated for, which is why he didn’t come to Melbourne for the Lightning and Newmarket.
“Obviously we would prefer to be going in to the TJ with a run under our belt, it is not ideal but he needs to run somewhere if he is going to be competitive in the All Aged in two weeks’ time.
“And talking to John (O’Shea) this (Tuesday) morning, I think that is his preferred path, T.J. Smith on to the All Aged and then we would probably stop.”
Flying Artie, Extreme Choice and Capitalist have already been retired from what appeared to be a high-class three-year-old sprinting crop and Plumptre said the commercial pressure involved with such valuable colts is the reason Astern will follow the same path.
“He has done his job and whilst it is important for us to keep these horses running for the racing public and it’s important for Sheikh Mohammed to have these horses in Group 1s, he has done enough to go to stud as a stallion,” he said.
“We’ve also got to keep an eye on the commercial side of these horses as well, we could get him going in the spring, we could aim him at a race like the Darley Sprint or something like that, he could get a temperature 10 days before it and be out of action, if he is in the breeding barn, it doesn’t matter how much he is coughing.”
Chautauqua is favourite to claim his third consecutive T.J. Smith Stakes, topping the market at $4.60 following the release of the final field on Tuesday morning.
Astern, who will be ridden by James Doyle, is on the second line of betting at $6 followed by Russian Revolution at $7.
– racing.com
