Trainer Clive Brittain has shelved plans to run his Acclamation filly Alsindi in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp this Sunday, October 2.
Alsindi (2f Acclamation – Needles and Pins by Fasliyev) won the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes (1400m) at Newmarket last weekend and that would have meant an 8 day turnaround for the French feature. Her final hit-out for the year will be in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on October 8.
“She’s a filly with a future and is ready to step up to a Group 1,” Brittain said. “She will be back at Newmarket for the One Thousand Guineas in May and a mile shouldn’t present any problems.”
Brittain won the 1984 Guineas with champion filly Pebbles and he doubled up in 1993 with Sayyedati.
Alsindi’s sire Acclamation leads the 2011 European 2YO premiership and that’s good news for his Swettenham Stud based son Equiano.
Equiano is the only Acclamation stallion standing in Australia. “The fertility reports from his first mares are excellent,” Swettenham manager Alan Morton said this week. “He’s currently at 90% and is covering them hassle free.”
Acclamation has sired six juvenile stakes winners in Europe this year headed by G2 Richmond Stakes winner Harbour Watch and G3 Solario Stakes winner Talwar.
Harbour Watch is a 7/1 pre-post favourite for the 2012 English 2000 Guineas and Alsindi is on the fifth line of betting for the fillies equivalent at 25/1.
Talwar can enhance his own classic claims this weekend. Trainer Jeremy Noseda has nominated him for the Tattersalls Millions Trophy at Newmarket on Saturday and the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Sunday.
Equiano also came of age as a three year-old when he defeated Takeover Target in a vintage edition of the G1 King’s Stand Stakes in 2008.
Equiano returned to Royal Ascot to win the King’s Stand in 2010 when Barry Hills rated him the fastest horse he had ever prepared.
High praise indeed considering Hills also trained G1 sprinters the calibre of Royal Applause (Cork and Orrery Stakes), Distant Music (Dewhurst Stakes), Red Clubs (Haydock Sprint Cup), Cormorant Wood (Lockinge Stakes) and Handsome Sailor (Prix de l’Abbaye).
Equiano is standing for a $15,000 (inc gst) service fee at Swettenham.