“He has come off sound. I am very pleased with him and it is likely he will be back there next week for the Gold Cup.”
Star Sports Derby winner Astute Missile returned to the scene of his greatest triumph on Saturday night and looked as good as new with a 28.16 run over Towcester’s 480m course.
It was the dog’s fourth visit to a track since breaking a hock in preparation for the Select Stakes last July. In typically modest fashion, Seamus swerved the kennel’s role in the dog’s recuperation.
He said: “I said at the time that (vet) Stefano did a very good job and it makes such a difference when you have a patient owner. I would hope to have four in the Gold Cup, including Droopys Gold, Sporting Dave and possibly Droopys Acrobat. He did skew at the boxes in his trial and seems okay but I need to get him checked over. It also might be a week too soon for him.”
It is perhaps fitting that Missile is destined to return in the event sponsored by his owner, the Astute Electronics Gold Cup. Worth £10,000 to the winner, the calibre of trial entries suggested a starting 48 should be every bit on par with a third round of the Star Sports English Derby.
Interestingly, three of last night’s trialists all won on Derby Final night. Dorotas Wildcat was in action 24 hours earlier. (see below)
Entries for the Astute Electronics Gold Cup close on Wednesday.
