Group One winner Oxted is set to run on Saturday in the British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot and the sprinter is said to be back flying at home after disappointing trainer Roger Teal ahead of his intended run in the Sprint Cup.
Oxted has bounced onto the racing scene this term having showed huge promise as a juvenile when landing his final contest in September, he has gone on to do things for his handler they never thought would be possible.
After building in size and maturing for the winter, Oxted started his three year old career in the Group Three Abernant Stakes, seeing off a decent field of seven runners who have previous group race experience.
Having looked very professional at Newmarket he was sent back there for his first experience in a Group One with the July Cup over six furlongs attracting a superstar field of runners.
Roger Teal's sprinter saw off the classy group to land his first ever black type victory with his jockey, the young Cieren Fallon also landing his first ever Group One success.
Teal believed that the horse missed the Haydock feature because of an allergic reaction to something, but now is back to his best and looking for more Group One glory.
Oxted (Mayson) follows his father with success in the Darley July Cup 👏
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2020
The biggest victory in the career of @RogerTealRacing, and what about the jockey - still a claiming apprentice, and a Group 1 winner on his just his second ride at the highest level! @CierenFallonJr pic.twitter.com/BsDviF5hzC
Teal has expressed that he would love the ground to dry out slightly before the off with this morning’s official description of soft, heavy in places looking to be testing for all runners involved.
(Credit ATR) “He did his final blow on Tuesday on the grass and went really nicely, so we’re happy with him going into Saturday. It’s all systems go,” said the Lambourn handler.
“The plan is to run. We’re going to take our chance. Obviously, we’ve got to find out if he’ll go on the softer conditions. We confirmed to run, so we might as well take our chance now.”
He added: “The sun’s shining this morning. Hopefully it will stay that way for the next three days and tighten the ground up a bit and then the tighter the ground gets, the better the chance we have.
“You’ve got to find these things out. There’s no point in keep ducking the issue. He’s bred to go on it. His mum went on it and his dad went on it, so on his pedigree he’s got a good chance of handling it now he’s stronger.
“You can’t guarantee it, but I think we’re in better shape now to find out one way or the other.”