Budapest Bullet books ticket to Royal Ascot

Champion Hungarian sprinter Overdose shattered the 1000 metre track record at Hoppegarten on Sunday clocking 54.10s to win a specially framed event at the Berlin course.

The Budapest Bullet made all the pace before going well clear of his rivals to win by six lengths.

Overdose (6h Starborough – Our Poppet by Warning) has won 15 races from 16 starts.  There were excuses for his only loss in the G2 Goldene Peitsche at Baden-Baden in August 2010.  He was a handful that day and held up the start for several minute until he finally consented to enter the gates.

He did ‘win’ the 2008 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp but the race was voided.

Worryingly for connections, he was again difficult to load at Hoppegarten on Sunday.  “He was nervous,” jockey Andreas Suborics reported.  “But I was never really worried.”

“He didn’t start as quickly as usual, but strode out really well once he found his rhythm.  I was able to ease him in the final stages and he had plenty left in the tank.”

Overdose will now head to England for the Temple Stakes at Haydock on May 21 prior to Royal Ascot.