Charlton’s Elusive another exciting 3yo for Mastercraftsman

Newbury maiden winner Extra Elusive (3c Mastercraftsman-Nessina, by Hennessy) was picked out by Roger Charlton in Tuesday’s Racing Post Stable Tour as his dark horse to follow for the 2018 season.

Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar’s home-bred, a G1 Irish Derby entry, saw off a strong field by two and three-quarter lengths on his only start.

“We like him, he’s scopey, he’s promising, and he might start off later this month in that good 1m 2f conditions race at Newbury in which Enable was beaten," said Charlton. "The way he won at Newbury on soft going indicated he may stay well…. but his half-brother Ajaya won a Gimcrack. He’s a 1m 2f horse and it will be a bonus if he stays 1m 4f.”

Other Mastercraftsman Classic hopefuls include the massively-exciting Andre Fabre-trained Wind Chimes (3f Mastercraftsman-Militante, by Johannesburg), just an 8/1 chance for the G1 1,000 Guineas after two unbeaten runs last season.

Another with sights on the Newmarket fillies’ Classic is the Richard Hannon-trained Model (3f Mastercraftsman-Goddess Of Love, by Galileo), of whom he reported last week : “We think a lot of her and I’m trying to get her ready for a Guineas trial.”

Lush Life (3f Mastercraftsman-Break Of Day, by Favorite Trick) could represent Jamie Osborne in the 1,000 Guineas having won her only juvenile start easily while Niarchos family home-bred Alpha Centauri (3f Mastercraftsman-Alpha Lupi, by Rahy) looks a live contender for the same race.

“She’s a very exciting filly… We’ve set our sights on a Classic campaign and she’ll kick off in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on April 14,” said trainer Jessica Harrington in this week’s Racing Post Weekender. “I’m delighted with how she’s done physically over the winter and I’m very happy with where we are with her at this stage.”

Meanwhile, Harrington hopes to have a Mastercraftsman colt capable of performing at Classic level in The King (3c Mastercraftsman-Catch The Moon, by Peintre Celebre). Speaking of the Gowran maiden winner, she said: “He looks a lovely specimen now… We’ll try him at a higher level and run him around the end of April with a view to the Irish 2,000 Guineas in May.”