Telecaster, winner of the 2019 Dante Stakes at York, has pleased trainer Hughie Morrison ahead of his comeback.
The colt by New Approach catapulted into contention for last year’s Epsom Derby with a length victory in the Group 2 trial last May.
However, Telecaster failed to fire in the premier Classic – trailing in last of 13. He dropped back in trip for the Eclipse at Sandown Park, but struggled there too finishing an eight-length seventh.
Handler Morrison has not lost faith, though. “We are really looking forward to get going with him,” the trainer said of Telecaster.
“We will look at the big mile-and-a-quarter races for him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he could go a little further. I am not sure where we will go, but we would like to start in a Group 3 somewhere.”
The Brigadier Gerard Stakes is the first race on the new BHA plan of Flat fixtures that fits for Telecaster.
Jamie Clark, HorseBetting.com Editor
Although he did nothing to advertise the Dante form himself, those in-behind Telecaster give connections reasons for optimism.
Too Darn Hot, beaten just a length and failing to stay, won Group 1s at Deauville and Glorious Goodwood later last season.
Dante fourth Japan – a horse that master trainer Aidan O’Brien did not have fully ready for York – also scored twice subsequently at the highest level.
Even the sixth horse home, Nayef Road, managed Group 3 success further on in the campaign. If Morrison can get Telecaster back to the form that bested Too Darn Hot and Japan, then there may be races to be won with him.
Whether that means he develops into a Champion Stakes horse remains to be seen. Telecaster has only ever raced on ground with good in the going description.
The Brigadier Gerard is set for 5 June – just 12 days before the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. It’s a big ask for Telecaster to run well in both.
