BC Internationals: Juvenile Turf contender Birchwood

Photo courtesy of Newmarket Racecourse via Twitter.

Birchwood has been on the go since the spring. Purchased by Godolphin after capturing his debut at Doncaster and a salty conditions race at Newbury (race replays available at those links), the Richard Fahey trainee disappointed on ground that was a touch softer than ideal in the Rochestown at Naas:

 

But Birchwood left that loss well behind next time in the Superlative (G2) at Newmarket, where he downed the well-fancied Air Vice Marshal from the Aidan O'Brien yard. A troubled fifth in the Vintage (G2) back on rain-softened going at Glorious Goodwood, the son of Dark Angel was most recently third to Europe's top juvenile, Air Force Blue, in the National (G1) at the Curragh: