RACING FORUM

Posted: **Mon Aug 22, 2016 4:49 am**

At York in the UK, European champion 4-time Gr1-winning former Darley shuttler Shamardal (Giant's Causeway-Helsinki, by Machiavellian) added a Group success when 2YO Irish-bred colt Blue Point (Shamardal-Scarlett Rose, by Royal Applause) scored by 3-lengths for trainer Charlie Appleby in the Gr2 Gimcrack Stakes (6 furlongs) for 2YOs, over 2YO US-bred colt Mokarris (More Than Ready-Limonar, by Street Cry) & fellow 2YO Irish-bred colt The Last Lion (Choisir-Mala Mala, by Brief Truce). This was the first stakes victory for the highly regarded Blue Point who improved his record to 3 wins and 1 placing (the Gr2 Richmond Stakes) from 4 starts for £175,525 earnings. Appleby said the Godolphin colt would head towards the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes (6 furlongs) at Newmarket on 24 September. "That was most impressive and I think the logical thing to do is to go straight to the Middle Park, but we'll get him back home and have a chat," Appleby told At The Races. "At this stage he looks all speed. It would be great if he stayed a mile, but at this stage it looks like he's going to be a sprinter."