Ecstatic Carroll eyes Abbaye for 'very good' Recon Mission after York success

Tony Carroll and his team are hopeful Saturday's valuable handicap winner Recon Mission can progress into a Group 1 sprinter, with the Prix de l'Abbaye on Arc weekend a potential end-of-season target.

The three-year-old made every yard to win the £100,000 sprint handicap over six furlongs at York, but his trainer believes the step down to five furlongs would be no problem at Longchamp.

Carroll said: "He's fine this morning. I thought he was impressive and he's potentially very good. He's tough and is still a full horse, so it's exciting to have him.

"I don't know where we will go next, it will be led by the going as he enjoys a bit of ease in the ground. There are a lot of super races for him.

"I hope he could develop into an Abbaye contender as he has a really bright future. A race like that would suit him and if he could land on one of those places with a bit of ease in the ground then he could be one of the leading horses."

Carroll has experience in handling rapid sprinters, having trained the admirable Caspian Prince to win the 2014 Epsom Dash.

After enjoying a record 61 Flat winners last season, Carroll is developing a strong team at Cropthorne Stud and believes Recon Mission could be a flagbearer

"I'd like to think Recon Mission could be a flagbearer so it's exciting times," he added. "For a small yard it is great to have a horse of his quality. We've got some lovely horses and great owners.

"It's been a good year, we have done well and are ticking along quietly. The team has grown in strength and depth."

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