Euro Charline: “In great order and goes for the Matron Stakes”

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Botti hoping rain stays away for Matron bid

EURO CHARLINE has returned home from an unsuccessful trip to America in great order according to trainer Marco Botti, who is hoping for a dry week before Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

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Last year’s Beverly D. Stakes winner finished fourth when trying to defend her crown in Chicago last month, after a pre-race downpour scuppered her ideal conditions.

However, she has returned to Botti’s Newmarket yard in good order and will attempt to double her tally at the top level on the opening day of Irish Champions Weekend.

“She was second to Amazing Maria in the Falmouth Stakes, which set her up nicely for a return to Chicago,” says Botti in this week’s Racing & Football Outlook. “Unfortunately there was a lot of rain on the day and she set off too fast in front and ran out of gas in the straight.”

He adds: “Euro Charline has come back in great order and goes for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday – I just hope it doesn’t rain.”

Time running out for Boistron

Botti also has news on his star-stayer Tac De Boistron, who holds an entry in Friday’s Socialites E-Cigarettes Expert Doncaster Cup but, unlike his stablemate, is best when the mud is flying.

Botti says: “This is likely to be his last season. He joined us two years ago and gave us two wins in the Prix Royal-Oak. He loves soft ground and tends to get his conditions at Longchamp at that time of year, so the aim is to get him there next month.

“I’m thinking about the Doncaster Cup on Friday but I’m minded to hold him back. The engine is still there, it’s a question of preserving the bodywork.”

Read more on Botti’s all-star squad in this week’s Racing & Football Outlook - available from Tuesday