IT’S not just racing fans who will be thrilled by Overdose’s planned British campaign in the summer – Cowthorpe trainer Robin Bastiman is pretty excited about it as well.
Connections of the Hungarian horse have targeted some top races for the three-year-old, and Bastiman reckons the unbeaten son of Starborough will be a perfect foil for his stable star Borderlescott.
The formidable reputation of Overdose, rated the world’s leading three-year-old sprinter in the recently released World Thoroughbred Rankings, doesn’t bother Bastiman in the slightest.
Readers of Turf Talk will know Bastiman believes that Borderlescott revels the faster the race pace and he believes there will be no shortage of that if Overdose lines up.
The pair could collide for the first time at Haydock’s Group 2 Temple Stakes on May 23 with Bastiman indicating that’s where his seven-year-old Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner is likely to make his seasonal bow.
“It will more than likely be the Temple Stakes,” Bastiman said. “I hope that Overdose comes over here. Don’t get me wrong, he might be a better horse than Borderlescott but at least I know that if they run in the King’s Stand or they run in the Nunthorpe it will be a true run sprint.
“There will be no hanging back, or false races. That horse just jumps and goes and something for Scottie to get a lead is exactly how he has to be ridden. It brings the best out of him.”
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