Breeding & Racing Magazine

UK Sprinter War Artist Possible Melb Trip

Meanwhile UK trainer James Eustace announced globe-trotting Australian-bred 5YO gelding War Artist (Orpen-Royal Solitaire, by Brocco) "has been ruled out of next Friday's Gr1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes" (5 furlongs) as connections also plan a potential trip to Melbourne, reported racingpost.co.uk. War Artist has notched placings in both June's UK Gr1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot & Gr1 July Cup (6 furlongs) at Newmarket in his latest 2 runs (following a runner-up in May's UK Gr2 Duke Of York Stakes over 6 furlongs) & Eustace commented: "The connections have decided to give the Nunthorpe a miss & leave him for a possible run in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. But we are aiming for a foreign campaign in the latter half of the year, so if we decide he needs a bit longer, he might give Haydock a miss too. The horse is absolutely fine, but he's been on the go since Wolverhampton in March & we've had such a good run, so we decided to give him a holiday after the July Cup. We are looking at the Global Sprint Challenge races & thinking about running in Melbourne at the Spring Carnival meeting (for which the $500,000 Gr1 The Age Classic over 1200m at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day November 8 is the Australian leg of the GSC). The Hong Kong Sprint in December is also a possible target." Earlier this season War Artist (a $57,500 yearling consigned by Attunga Stud at the 2005 Magic Millions January Gold Coast Sale) finished runner-up in March's UK Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes (7 furlongs on the all-weather track) at Wolverhampton; & previously racing in South Africa during 2007 he notched 4 wins (including the Gr1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Clairwood) & 2 placings (including the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville & Gr3 Byerley Turk Stakes).