'Apple of Cox's eye' Get Ahead set for debut at Ascot for Hot to Trot syndicate

Alkumait’s sister Get Ahead is set to provide plenty of excitement for the Hot to Trot syndicate when she makes her debut at Ascot on Friday.

The daughter of Showcasing, out of Suelita, is another link between Hot to Trot and Whitsbury Manor Stud, who bred the juvenile, with the ties dating back to Showstoppa, the very first foal to be born to Whitsbury stallion Showcasing.

The Clive Cox-trained Get Ahead, who was a Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling last October, contests the British Stallion Stud EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (1.55), with Adam Kirby in the saddle.

In an article about the filly, and their ties with Whitsbury Manor, on the Hot to Trot website, Sam Hoskins wrote: “Of the two-year-olds, Get Ahead will be looked forward to in great anticipation due to being a sister to the very exciting Alkumait, one of the most promising juveniles of last season.

“Ed [Harper] insists he can take little credit for Get Ahead, as since taking over the stud seven or eight years ago he has bought every horse except Suelita, the dam of this one! His father was sitting in the seats at the December sales and, having always admired this family, put up his hand and bought her. Luckily, Ed approved!

“Suelita’s Frankel foal sold very well last year, and she has gone to Kingman this year. Our filly, Get Ahead, looks to be sharp and quick, and is the apple of trainer Clive Cox’s eye at this early stage!”

Alkumait won the Mill Reef Stakes last year and returned last month to finish seventh behind Chindit in the Greenham.

Gorgeous Star, bought for 240,000gns at last month’s Craven Breeze-Up Sale, looks an interesting fellow newcomer in the same race for Amo Racing, along with Godolphin homebred Wild Beauty, by Frankel and a half-sister to UAE Oaks runner-up Swift Rose.

Ascot does not provide the only race involving newcomers to note on Friday, with the Mansionbet App Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Nottingham (7.00) doing likewise. One that takes the eye here is Barshaa, who will sport the colours of Sheikh Ahmed.

The three-year-old filly is by Dubawi and out of dual UAE Group 1 winner Sajjhaa. She runs for the Simon and Ed Crisford yard and is the mount of David Egan in what looks sure to be a typically competitive Nottingham maiden given the 17 declarations.

Across the water at Cork, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes (7.40), Aquis Farm’s 725,000gns buy from the Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling sale of 2019, now named Rekero, is set to make his debut for the Joseph O’Brien yard in a maximum 18-runner field.

The colt is by Fastnet Rock out of the brilliant racemare Pride, making him a half-brother to Group 2 winner One Foot In Heaven.

His dam was a triple Group 1 winner, in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the Champion Stakes - when it was its former proper test over the straight ten furlongs at Newmarket - and the Hong Kong Cup.

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