Botti excited by claims of Euro Charline in Falmouth

Euro Charline, centre, is said to be in great shape after skipping Royal Ascot. Picture: Racingfotos.com 

Marco Botti is looking forward to running Euro Charline in the Tattersalls 250th Year Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday week.

The Newmarket trainer resisted running his globetrotting mare at Royal Ascot this month in order to have her in peak condition for the £200,000 Group One contest, which is run over a straight mile and forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

“The Falmouth Stakes has been the plan for Euro Charline for a while and I am very keen to run her as long as the ground is not too soft,” Botti said on Tuesday. “The forecast for next week looks a bit better, which is encouraging.

“Euro Charline is in great form. I have been happy with her work and I’m delighted that we took an early decision to miss Royal Ascot with her as that allowed me to freshen her up.

“The Falmouth certainly won’t be easy as Usherette was very impressive at Ascot but you can’t be frightened of one horse and I think that she has a good chance.”

Euro Charline finished runner-up to Belardo in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury six weeks ago, having previously filled the same position in the Dubai Turf. She has won more than £1.5m in prize money.

“Her last two runs have probably both been career bests as she took on the colts on each occasion,” Botti said. “In the Lockinge, I just wish she had been able to get a lead for a little longer as she was in front a bit too soon.

“She is more professional now than when she ran such a good race in this last year. She used to be a bit fiery but she is much more relaxed and has grown up a lot.”

Euro Charline is generally quoted at 12-1 for the Falmouth Stakes. The ante-post market is dominated by Usherette, who is no bigger than 5-6.

Botti’s fellow Newmarket handlers, Hugo Palmer and Jeremy Noseda, could be represented by the German 1000 Guineas winner, Hawksmoor, and the Coronation Stakes runner-up, Nemoralia.