Following a successful outing at Royal Ascot, James Doyle and Wathnan Racing are looking for more triumph as Aesterius prepares to compete in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown on Friday.
The son of Mehmas, trained by Archie Watson, showcased his talent with a debut victory at Bath before finishing a close second in the Norfolk Stakes at his second start. With William Buick in the saddle at Ascot, Doyle will take over for this Listed race as Aesterius aims to return to winning ways.
Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown expressed confidence in the colt's abilities, noting that the stiff five furlongs at Sandown should suit him well. Despite tough competition and many unpredictable contenders in the race, the team hopes for a strong performance from Aesterius.
In addition to Aesterius, Doyle will also ride Irish runner Run For Oscar in the Coral Marathon, while partnering with Simon and Ed Crisford's Knight in the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes. The latter, who disappointed in his last race at Royal Ascot, looks to improve at the 10-furlong distance this time around.
Another notable contender on the card is Savvy Victory, trained by Sean Woods, who finished fourth in the Wolferton Stakes at Ascot and is aiming for a repeat victory in the same race where he prevailed in 2023. With the horse in good form and enjoying soft ground, Woods is optimistic about his chances and hopes for a positive performance to set the stage for future Group races.