Champion French trainer, Andre Fabre, is most excited about the prospects of Casterton. The OTI owned son of Fastnet Rock has been the bridesmaid in two starts to date but has shown enough for Fabre to eye off a potential Derby start with the colt.
Casterton is part of OTI’s 2015 Fastnet Rock package that see’s thirteen European-trained horses named after Victorian country towns. Casterton is a town just east of the South Australian border and boasts a thriving jumps racing community.
Andre Fabre is one of the best-known and most successful trainers in the world. Fabre has been the champion trainer in France a staggering 24 times, including 21 straight years from 1987-2007. Fabre is focused on racing quality stock and it’s most promising that he holds Casterton is such high regard.
The 3YO slogged through very heavy conditions when resuming at Compiegne, his first run for the season. Jockey, Pierre-Charles Boudot, speared Casterton to the outside fence in the straight to seek better going but he was ultimately beaten by a horse that relished the mud. It was a most pleasing return to the track and he will benefit getting onto a drier surface.
Casterton will have his second start for the season at Chantilly on Thursday over 2000M (R2 at 9.10pm AEST). With relatively fine weather forecast the track should be suitably firm and Fabre believes Casterton should get every chance to break his maiden status.
There’s no doubt Casterton has a bright future and Thursday’s race will help guide his coming campaign. Everything being well, the colt will make his way to Australia later in the year with an eye to our better staying races. OTI wishes its partners all the best at Chantilly on Thursday.
