Nigel Tinkler will dare to dream at Royal Ascot next month if Arranmore Girl fulfils her potential at Beverley on Saturday.
The daughter of Approve stylishly broke her maiden at the East Yorkshire circuit in April and now steps up in grade in a top renewal of the Hilary Needler Trophy.
Arranmore Girl looked a horse to follow on her debut at Beverley, when an unlucky-in-running fourth in a hot race, and put that experience to good use when she streaked two and a quarter lengths clear a week later.
Another big performance in the £25,000 conditions stakes over five furlongs would see the young filly hurled into the big time at the Royal meeting in June.
“She’s very well and she’s had a lovely little break,” said Malton-based Tinkler.
“We gave her two runs at Beverley within a week, and a little time off seems to have done her a lot of good.
“She wouldn’t want it too soft, but the ground shouldn’t be a problem for her as Beverley is a good, drying track.
“She’d have to win, and win nicely, for us to think about Ascot, but she does have a lot of potential.”
Arranmore Girl will require a new rider in the Hilary Needler as Jason Hart, who has been at the helm for her two career starts, is suspended.
“I’m in a little bit of a bind as our jockey (Jason Hart) is banned so we’ll have to get someone else,” said Tinkler.
“I’m sure there’ll be no shortage of takers as she’s clearly a nice filly.”
The historic Hilary Needler Trophy has consistently provided a supply-line of Royal runners in races like the Queen Mary Stakes, and was most significantly won by the great Attraction in 2003.
Sharing top billing on the seven-race card, due to begin at 2.05pm, is the Brian Yeardley Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy.
Now worth £25,000 in prize-money, the five-furlong conditions stakes for colts and geldings has also been used as a springboard for potential Ascot starlets.
The current going at Beverley is good to firm, good in places, with drying conditions forecast until racing on Saturday.
