Hat-Trick and Epsom Plans for Ashikaga

16th August 2008

Fusaichi Pegasus has been on somewhat of a winning roll of late with promising horses emerging both in Australia and the Northern Hemisphere, the Gai Waterhouse trained Ashikaga (5g Fusaichi Pegasus x Tropical Affair, by Danehill) stamping himself as an Epsom contender with a powerful win at Rosehill on Saturday.

Ridden forward from an outside gate, five year-old Ashikaga responded in style pulling away from his rivals under 58.5 kg to take the Ratings 75 event over 1300 metres by a length and a half.

With three wins from as many starts, the Gooree Stud homebred will be set for better races with trainer Gai Waterhouse indicating a start in the Group One AJC Epsom Handicap over 1600 metres might not be beyond him.

Ashikaga has been given all the time in the world and obviously has ability, as did his half-sister Matras, a Group Three winner in Melbourne by Zabeel.

Ashikaga and Matras are from the stakes-winning Danehill mare Tropical Affair, who comes from the family of Princess Talaria.

Also looking good for FuPeg was the smart three year-old colt Captain Coltish (3c Fusaichi Pegasus x Skates, by Danehill), who opened his career with an easy win at Geelong on Friday.

An $800,000 Inglis Easter purchase for John Foote Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, Captain Coltish is trained by Lee Freedman for a group that includes Tony Santic’s Emily Kristina Syndicate.

Captain Coltish is a half-brother to Group One SAJC Swettenham Stakes winner Juste Momente being from the Danehill mare Skates, a daughter of champion mare and first rate producer Skating.