Fun times ahead for Joey Barton at Doncaster

With his first season managing Fleetwood Town over, Joey Barton might have a little spare time for his racing interests as he can look forward to the debut by the first offspring of a runner who carried his white and purple silks with distinction a few years ago.

My Propeller, a Holy Roman Emperor filly raced with Peter Chapple-Hyam, took the Listed Roses Stakes at York as a juvenile and added further black type at the same level two seasons later when beating the subsequent Nunthorpe winner Jwala in the Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes at Ayr.

Barton has tended to name his horses after songs and has remained consistent here, following the Arctic Monkeys’ ballad My Propeller, he has taken another from the Sheffield band’s repertoire with the filly She Looks Like Fun.

By Cheveley Park’s Kyllachy, she has been placed with Karl Burke, who trained Barton’s only runner last season Lonely Boy, out of his three-times winner Havelovewilltravel.

She Looks Like Fun takes in the Howcroft Group Novice Auction Stakes at Doncaster, against a mixture of fellow newcomers and some more experienced juveniles.

Adrian Nicholls’ Dandy Man filly Dandizette showed promise against the Burke-trained Insania at Thirsk a fortnight ago, while Ivan Furtado’s daughter of Alhabeyeb, Doncaster Rosa, showed similar promise in finishing second at Beverley.

My Propeller, who was bought back for 120,000gns when offered at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2017, has produced a yearling colt by Iffraaj, also registered as bred by Barton, and was booked for Sea The Stars this year.

The well-travelled and often controversial footballer, who ended up guiding his League One club to 11th place, had a few more runners during his playing days. He also owned the Ascot Listed winner Crying Lightening in partnership with another racing enthusiast from his sport, Claudio Pizarro.

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