Peintre Celebre could be represented by 3 candidates in the Derby
16th May 2007
Although the Roger Charlton-trained Proponent (3c Peintre Celebre-Pont Audemer by Chief's Crown), who was bred by Fortbarrington Stud and was unbeaten last year, is likely to make his seasonal comeback in the G2 Dante Stakes at York on Thursday, he already has two stakes-winning colts who are Epsom-bound.
Salford Mill (3c Peintre Celebre-Razana by Kahyasi), bred by Mrs H D McCalmont, will go straight for the Classic after running out a length and a half winner of the Listed Newmarket Stakes on Saturday from Acapulco (3c Galileo-Harasava by Darshaan).
"At this stage of the year, you don't get too excited but he's a progressive horse - he's the real deal," said Elsworth. "I hope he'll improve for that and he's a particularly nice horse. We'll see how he comes out of this before deciding whether to run him again before Epsom, but the plan is to go there and I don't think he'll have any problem with the track as he's a well balanced sort."
Petara Bay (3c Peintre Celebre-Magnificient Style by Silver Hawk), a 340,000gns yearling bred by Swettenham Stud, had beaten Salford Mill by a head in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April and looks set to bid for a local success for trainer Terry Mills, who is based in Epsom.
Meanwhile Peintre Celebre's cracking Australian sprinter Bentley Biscuit (5g Peintre Celebre-Tycoon Joy by Last Tycoon) is set to be in the limelight at Royal Ascot as he attempts to emulate the great Choisir by winning both the G1 King's Stand Stakes and G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes in the
same week.