Breath states his Golden Jubilee case
Roger Charlton's highly progressive sprinter Bated Breath put up another good performance when landing the listed Sportingbet.com Stakes at Windsor on Monday night and might well have done enough to convince his trainer that he is ready for a shot at the big guns in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in three weeks time, writes Elliot Slater.
The Dansili colt's length-and-three-quarters defeat of the useful Triple Aspect, (winner of the race 12 months earlier), was impressive, Prince Khaled Abdullah's charge racing prominently before quickening at the two furlong from home marker with only Triple Aspect able to stay with him. Sustaining a strong burst into the final furlong Bated Breath soon mastered his main opponent and drew away to win with something in hand. Anyone looking at the Ascot odds would have been impressed.
Charlton pronounced himself very pleased with the performance of his winner who scored nicely despite missing a beat as the stalls opened. Winning jockey Steve Drowne was also impressed by the four-year-old, and connections will now seriously consider heading to Royal Ascot, although an alternative target of the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle later next month could also be a possibility.
Bated Breath was winning his fifth race from just eight career starts having beaten the very useful Society Rock at Haydock earlier this month in a strong conditions race, showing that he had done well from three to four years and could be a force to be reckoned with this term. The half-brother to his owner's Group 3 winner Cityscape (last seen finishing runner-up to Dick Turpin in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown last month), Bated Breath appears to be improving with every outing and is now as short as just 10/1 with some firms for the Golden Jubilee Stakes, having been available at 20/1 in places prior to his Windsor victory.
