More stakes for Fat Boy

2nd June 2008

With a name like Fat Boy (3c Choisir-Gold Shift, by Night Shift), he should enjoy his steaks, but it is stakes races that have proved a speciality for Peter Chapple-Hyam's charge. Fat Boy won his third stakes race at Haydock on Saturday in the Listed Rectangle Group Sandy Lane Stakes, following on from a success last month in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury and as a juvenile in the Listed Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon. He was sent off a red-hot 10/11 favourite for this latest victory and - making all the running under Tom Queally - there never looked any danger he would not win the six-furlong contest.

"I think he had a bit in reserve," said Queally. "We went a good gallop and we didn't take any prisoners as I didn't want to get caught late on and the second looked to have me covered two down but mine is tough and he is going
the right way." Bookmakers were impressed with the victory and gave Fat Boy, who was bred by Peter Mooney, quotes of 16/1 for both the G1 King's Stand Stakes and G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

On his website, Chapple-Hyam added: "He is a tough and consistent horse, who is pretty good, too. We'll have a think about where he goes next but he does enjoy this summer ground." A Choisir definitely on course for Royal Ascot is the Listed European Free Handicap winner Stimulation, who was a seemingly unlucky loser when beaten a head in the recent Listed King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket.

"I was delighted with him really and if the race was run another 10 times I think he would have won it nine times out of 10," said his trainer Hughie Morrison. "Afterwards our initial thinking was that we might bring him back to six furlongs but after some thought I think we'll stick to seven furlongs and go to Royal Ascot for the G3 Jersey Stakes."