Prior to a scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot, Robyn Brisland could think about travelling to France with his Brocklesby hero, Doddie’s Impact.
The Pearl Secret colt, who was purchased in October for about £6,000, bears the name of the late rugby union hero Doddie Weir and aids in the effort to raise money to treat Motor Neurone Disease.
On Saturday at Doncaster, he showed a willing attitude to win the opening two-year-old race of the season, putting up a fight against the 3/1 favourite and €250,000 buy Valadero.
As he plans a path to a potential tilt at the Royal meeting in June, Brisland is eager to ratchet up his charge in trip in his next start.
According to the trainer, “He’s come out of it nicely, he’s really tough, and he could nearly go again today. We were optimistic coming into the race, but you can never be sure when a bunch of two-year-olds are sprinting straight ahead.
We must be keeping an eye out for Royal Ascot, but in the meanwhile, I’d want to push him up to six furlongs. I don’t currently have anything planned, but if he races, we could end up travelling abroad.
We could consider travelling to France because the prize money is always good if you go overseas.”
Brisland now believes that the Coventry Stakes is the most appropriate aim, while his Royal Ascot target will probably depend on how he performs at his subsequent start.
“The Windsor Castle wouldn’t be any good for him because they’d move too quickly, so I suppose the Coventry would have to be it,” he continued.
