Euro Charline among 18 remaining in Saturday’s Lockinge

Team Valor International’s Euro Charline is set to begin the European phase of her campaign in Saturday’s Lockinge (G1) at Newbury, if the ground remains suitable.

The 2014 Beverly D (G1) heroine was most recently a bang-up second to Japan’s Real Steel in the Dubai Turf (G1) on World Cup night, March 26.

“We have been pleased with Euro Charline since she returned from Dubai,” trainer Marco Botti said.

“We have freshened her up and she did a nice piece of work at the weekend. There are showers forecast, but the plan is to run providing the ground is good.

“I thought it was a great performance in Dubai and there is no doubt she is stronger this year.

 “We have not had any issues with her and she has not had much racing for a 5-year-old.

“The drop back to a mile is no problem. She has always had plenty of speed and Newbury is a big, galloping track, which will suit.”

Further plans call for Euro Charline to grace the American turf again, with the Breeders’ Cup firmly in her sights.

 In other Lockinge news, Godolphin has purchased Dutch Connection and Home of the Brave.

“Both Dutch Connection and Home of the Brave are excellent horses, who will give us more depth in the ranks in our attempt to win the top one-mile and seven-furlong races in the calendar this year,” Godolphin’s racing manager and chief executive, John Ferguson, told godolphin.com.

“They present us with plenty of interesting options.

“More importantly, though, they give us the chance to be competitive in the top international races later in the year, not only in Europe, but America, Asia and Australia, as well.”

Dutch Connection and Home of the Brave will stay in the yards of their current trainers, Charlie Hills and Hugo Palmer, respectively.

The new recruits make it a total of five engaged in the Lockinge for Godolphin, along with last year’s near-misser Toormore, who just edged Dutch Connection in the April 22 Sandown Mile (G2); soft-ground aficionado Belardo, exiting a fourth to Toormore in the same race; and presumptive pacemaker Barchan.

Others in the prospective field are the high-class Limato, who would be stepping up to a mile for the first time; Arod, third in the 2015 Lockinge; Amazing Maria, who beat Euro Charline in the Falmouth (G1) when striking peak form last summer; Clive Cox’s well regarded Kodi Bear; Estidhkaar, a smart 2-year-old who lost his way in a limited 3-year-old campaign, and fellow Sheikh Hamdan colorbearers Adaay and Mahsoob; Mahsoob’s stablemates from the John Gosden yard, Gm Hopkins and Johnny Barnes; the Aidan O’Brien-trained Cougar Mountain; Endless Drama, unraced for nearly a year since his second to Gleneagles in the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1); and the Richard Fahey-trained Gabrial.

As distaffers, Euro Charline and Amazing Maria each receive a 3-pound weight concession from the males, who carry 126 pounds.

Photo of Euro Charline at Arlington last summer, courtesy of Four Footed Fotos.