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| Staff Writer |
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Marco Botti has set his sights on the Prix Maurice de Gheest for Great Generation following her commendable performance in the Summer Stakes at York.
The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor has shown remarkable consistency throughout her career, winning her first two races and concluding her juvenile season with a Gr.3 second place in the Firth of Clyde at Ayr. This season, she began with a fourth-place finish in the Prix Imprudence at Deauville, stepping up to seven furlongs on heavy ground. She then secured a victory in the Gr.3 Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield in May.
After a brief break, Great Generation returned to the track at York on Friday for the Gr.3 Summer Stakes over six furlongs. Starting at 5-1 and carrying a penalty, she finished a close fourth, just a length behind the winner in a tightly contested race.
“I thought that she ran a good race considering the ground was a little bit on the soft side,” Botti said.
“I imagine she would have preferred slightly quicker ground, but it was still a good effort under a penalty.
“We were pleased in defeat, also she was drawn in stall one so maybe things just didn’t quite pan out as we hoped but I still feel she ran a good race.”
Great Generation is entered for the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 4 and is now expected to take that route, stepping up to Group One competition in France.
Botti said: “I think we’ll stick to our original plan to go to the Prix Maurice de Gheest in August, we will take our shot because this has been the race we’ve had planned for a while.
“I know it’s against older horses, but it’s over six and a half furlongs and I think it’s going to be worth taking our chance.”
Great Generation shares ownership with another talented filly from the Botti stable, the Due Diligence three-year-old Folgaria.
Folgaria made an impressive British debut by winning the Fred Darling Stakes, arriving with an unbeaten record from Italy, where she was trained by Botti’s brother, Stefano.
Her next race was a step up to a mile in the French 1000 Guineas at Longchamp, where she finished 11th of 15, just five and a half lengths behind the winner.
She then contested another mile race, the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing sixth of nine against top-tier competition.
Botti now believes the mile distance is too long for Folgaria and plans to target the Gr.2 Hungerford Stakes, reverting to seven furlongs.
“She ran well at Ascot but I think her optimum trip is seven,” the trainer said.
“We are aiming for the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on the August 17, again she will have to take on older horses.
“Unfortunately there are no races for fillies only over seven furlongs, so we will let her take her chance and she how she goes.”