Breeders' Cup Heroine Audarya to Begin Season May 26
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Audarya after winning the 2020 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland
Breeders' Cup heroine Audarya is to commence her campaign at Saint-Cloud May 26, with James Fanshawe preferring a French raid over a trip closer to home at Sandown.
The 5-year-old emerged as one of the biggest surprises of last season, progressing from winning a handicap at Newcastle off 99 to securing top-level victories in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1) and Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) in the United States.
Although she has an entry in the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Sandown May 27, Audarya will instead be sent to France for the Prix Corrida (G2) to take on her own sex, with bigger targets potentially on the horizon.
Fanshawe said: "She's been declared for the Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud on Wednesday and that's her more likely target. We have to start her somewhere and she's against her own sex. It's a good starting point for a French-bred older mare.
"Last season didn't quite materialize until August, so it'll be nice to get her first run under her belt. She seems really well but you never quite know when they're having their first race. We'll get this out of the way and then make a plan on the way.
"She's got lots of entries because she's a Breeders' Cup winner and is entitled to have them. We'll stay against her own sex and see how we get on."
Audarya (yellow cap) wins the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland
Fanshawe is thankful to owner Alison Swinburn for keeping Audarya in training this season.
He added: "She's in really good form, looks strong, and is thoroughly enjoying her work. It's great that we have her in the yard to race."
Another of the trainer's stable stars, The Tin Man , is also due to appear on the racecourse soon. The 9-year-old sprinter is poised to make his reappearance in the listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury on June 13.
Fanshawe said: "One or two of my horses looked really well in March but got affected by the colder weather. He grew another coat, so that's why he didn't run at Windsor.
"We'll look at the Cathedral Stakes and we'll make a plan after that. He hasn't won for a while but I thought he was a bit unlucky a couple of times last year.
"At home he's really enjoying his training and as soon as he's not we'll stop with him. We'll go to Salisbury and see from there."