Ashlor out to continue rise at Flemington
Ashlor’s racetrack performances have already led to substantial offers but the promising three-year-old will be out to continue the ride for his connections when he runs at Flemington.
Trained at Wangaratta by Daniel McCarthy, Ashlor has won six of his nine starts and had it been for better luck his trainer is convinced he could have had another two.
Ashlor is the $5.50 equal favourite for Saturday’s Barwon South West Region Handicap (1100m).
McCarthy believes Ashlor has an exciting career ahead and admits the connections have already received quite a few big offers for the gelding.
“Not many horses do what he’s done. To win six of nine is a pretty impressive record so far, so it’s created a fair bit of interest,”McCarthy said.
“He’s a horse on the up and he’s exciting so there certainly is a fair bit of interest in him.”
He said for the time being, the owners are happy to enjoy the ride.
“We’ve really enjoyed the ride so far and he’s won a couple of hundred thousand dollars. And he’s really only just getting started,” McCarthy said.
“The monetary value is certainly substantial, but the fun you can have in the meantime could certainly outweigh the value now, then watching someone else get the enjoyment.”
“He’s got his whole career ahead of him and it could be a great ride and a lot of fun times ahead.
After beating older horses at Morphettville over 1200m on May 13, a week after running a gallant fifth in the Group Two Euclase Stakes, Ashlor was given a short break.
“He did a treat in the fortnight he was out so we brought him back just to have one more crack at some three-year-old races before he turns four,” McCarthy said.
“He’s done really, really well. He’s had a jump-out and an official trial in the meantime and has tightened up really nicely for Saturday.”
McCarthy has been involved with horses most of his life and is looking to land his first Flemington win.
“I’d be very, very excited if he could salute tomorrow,” he said.