Ambitious owners Yulong Investments continue to make a splash in the European racing scene after completing the purchase of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Royal Ascot winner Trinity College and moving United States grade 1 winner Carl Spackler to John and Thady Gosden.
The top Australian-based racing and bloodstock operation, which has spent millions of pounds at auctions acquiring prestige bloodstock and recently revealed plans for a significant stud development near Newmarket, has put on hold plans for Carl Spackler to go to Australia and he is now registered as being trained by the Gosdens following his Sussex Stakes (G1) defeat last week.
The son of Lope de Vega was bought by Yulong after winning the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) on his final start for Chad Brown at Keeneland in April and was transferred to Australian trainer Ciaron Maher with the intention of running in a couple of races in Britain on his way to Australia.
However, after finishing sixth at Goodwood, Carl Spackler will remain in Europe and has been entered for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) in October, having not featured among 108 entries for the Cox Plate (G1) Wednesday.
His owners could still be represented in the Moonee Valley group 1 Oct. 25 by last year's winner Via Sistina and new purchase Trinity College, who was beaten a short head in last month's Grand Prix de Paris (G1), having impressively won the Hampton Court Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot in June. He will now be trained by Chris Waller.
Carl Spackler was also sixth on his first start outside of the U.S. in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, having won eight of his 12 previous starts, and filled the same position in the Sussex.
Yulong's chief operating officer Sam Fairgray told Australian radio network RSN927: "Carl Spackler pulled up okay, but I think at this stage we'll probably leave him in Europe. There were plans for him to come down for the Cox Plate, but I think we'll leave him there and let him acclimatize a bit and see if we can just get him back on track."
Whirl given surprise Cox Plate option
O'Brien said Whirl "could do anything" after she won the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) and referenced the fact that "she'll have so many options" after recording back-to-back victories at the highest level in the Nassau Stakes (G1). The trainer has duly entered the Oaks runner-up in the Cox Plate along with stablemates Bedtime Story, Diego Velazquez, and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Joseph O'Brien won the Cox Plate in 2021 with State of Rest and he could be represented by Al Riffa or Galen, while Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell could provide further Irish representation.
Harry Eustace's Docklands was sixth in the race last year but the Queen Anne hero has not been entered, with the potential British representatives being the Richard Hannon-trained pair Haatem and Persica and last year's Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Rashabar.
