Fanshawe opts to hang fire with Breeders’ Cup heroine Audarya
Thoughts now turn to Royal Ascot or the Curragh for return.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Breeders’ Cup heroine Audarya is likely to make a high-profile return next month, despite having to miss her intended comeback at either Saint-Cloud or Sandown this week.
Trainer James Fanshawe was intending to take his mare to France on Wednesday for the Group Two Prix Corrida, and she also had Thursday’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes as a possible alternative.
Fanshawe decided against either option, though, after noticing Audarya was not quite on top form at home last weekend.
She's fine. She was just a bit quiet at the weekend, and it's a long trip to France, so that's why we decided not to go
He said: “She’s fine. She was just a bit quiet at the weekend, and it’s a long trip to France, so that’s why we decided not to go.”
Audarya was both a Group One and Grade One winner as she improved dramatically through a brilliant international campaign last year, which she completed with a famous success in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November.
Both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, the latter against her fellow fillies and mares, remain under consideration for her next month.
“The Prince of Wales’s would be a tough question to ask her first time out,” added Fanshawe.
“But I’m sure she’ll tell us. There’s the Pretty Polly 10 days later, so there are various options – we’ll see how she is.”
Wherever the five-year-old returns, her Newmarket trainer anticipates it will not be long delayed.
“We decided to give her a bit more time,” he added.
“It’s just looking at her – she was just not her usual bouncy self. So that’s why we haven’t gone this week.
“I was hoping to run her this week, and she’s not far from a race.”