Cat colt heading to Royal Ascot

30th April 2008

A 4lb penalty could not stop One Cool Cat’s first-crop son Baycat (2c One Cool Cat-Greta D’Argent, by Great Commotion) in a five-furlong conditions event at Ascot on Wednesday and he looks set to return to the same track for Royal Ascot in a few weeks.

The Jonny Portman-trained Baycat, bred by D Couper senior, made a winning debut at Newbury earlier this month before lining up at Ascot, in what looked beforehand like one of Britain’s best juvenile races run so far this season.

But there was only going to be one winner from some way out as Baycat asserted himself to score by a length and a quarter.

"He was carrying more condition today than at Newbury as we haven't done much with him since then, and I hope he carries on improving," said Portman. "Royal Ascot would have to be an option and he really needs to have more of a test to see if he is an Ascot horse, so he might run again before June."

One Cool Cat has already made a fantastic start with his first crop and many more of his juveniles have been impressing their trainers at home.

One to look out for could be a so far un-named colt out of the Lear Fan mare Passe Passe in training with Peter Chapple-Hyam.

"He is very nice and in fast work already," says Chapple-Hyam in this week’s Racing Post Weekender. "He does everything very easily and looks a Royal Ascot candidate at this stage."