a day ago
Charlotte Littlefield eyes Royal Ascot-Goodwood with She's Bulletproof
Charlotte Littlefield has an early and light spring set for sprinter She's Bulletproof, as part of a long-range Royal Ascot-Glorious Goodwood homecoming dream.
The Group 1-placed She's Bulletproof is well into pre-training now after a welcomed two-month break.
Pakenham-based UK expat Littlefield, who grew up in Goodwood, has Australian Group 1 aspirations first ideally for Oakleigh Plate runner-up She's Bulletproof.
'We'll be certainly targeting the early part of spring with her,' Littlefield said.
'Whether we go to Sydney or stay in Melbourne and aim at something like the Moir Stakes.
'There is a long-term goal to get She's Bulletproof to Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood … it would be a dream come true to get a horse back to my home country.'
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Littlefield would be a major drawcard for UK racing authorities as an expat returning home with an Australian sprinter.
She's Bulletproof has won four of 13 starts and placed on seven occasions.
The rising five-year-old broke out last campaign with a Group 3 win and slashing Group 1 second in the Oakleigh Plate.
A wet track thwarted Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) ambitions although She's Bulletproof, placed fifth, had by them come to the end of her campaign.
• 'He was a legend': Bedggood, Bates dedicate Sandown win to Laing
'We'd ideally like to get a Group 1 win with her before we travel,' Littlefield said.
'But if you look at what Asfoora has done, she hadn't won a Group 1 when she went over (to Royal Ascot last year, so it's definitely a possibility.
'It depends how the sprinting ranks are going over there … we'd obviously want to go over there knowing we've got a horse rated suitably to win a race.'
The Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora last year became the eighth Australian-trainer horse to win at Royal Ascot with a brilliant performance in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes.
Asfoora is $5 equal favourite to defend her King Charles III crown on June 18.
• Big Bets review: War Machine delivers for punters
Littlefield's 'pipeline dream' 2026 UK odyssey would also include the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.
Asfoora placed second in the 1005m sprint last year.
'I went there (Goodwood twilight races) with my mum and stepdad growing up,' Littlefield said.
'Had my one pound on each race and to be honest I had no … care in the world if we won.
'It was so fun to see the horses and jump up and down and scream. That was my little thing as a kid, I used to love going to Goodwood.
'To win at Goodwood, in a Group race, would mean more than a Group 1.'
The five-day Royal Ascot Carnival starts on Tuesday night (AEST).
Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys James McDonald and Mark Zahra will ride at Royal Ascot while champion trainer Ciaron Maher has new acquisition, Yulong-bought Carl Spackler – a multiple Grade 1 American star with Cox Plate ambitions – in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.
Gilbert Gardiner
Sports reporter
Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun.
@gilbertgardiner
Gilbert Gardiner
