Connections yet to commit to Classic plans with Evolutionist

Classic plans remain undecided for Evolutionist following her impressive reappearance in France earlier this month.

Having rounded off a promising juvenile campaign with a third-place finish behind 1000 Guineas favourite Precise in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, Karl Burke’s filly looked to have improved again when winning the Group Three Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp.

The Night Of Thunder filly holds entries in the English, Irish and French versions of both the Guineas and the Oaks and connections are in no rush to make a final call on where she will ultimately end up.

“We haven’t made any decision yet, we’re just waiting and seeing,” said Paul Curran, racing and bloodstock manager for owners Forz Europe Ltd.

“We’ll let her do the talking for us and won’t make any decision until closer to the time.”

Evolutionist is one of two entries for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket for the owners along with Royal Fixation, who was bought by the Forz Europe team during the off-season and sent to Burke after winning the Lowther and finishing third in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

However, connections have already stated their intention to stick to shorter trips this season, with a tilt at the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot an obvious major target.

Curran added: “She’s going to stick to six furlongs and again we’re going to weigh things up and see how she’s doing next week.

“She could go to Ascot (Trials Day), but we’re just going to wait and see what sort of prep race she’ll go for. She’s coming along nicely.”

Another Burke inmate for whom Curran has high hopes is Crown Relic, who following two impressive victories at Wolverhampton came up short in the Group Three Prix Djebel at Deauville – a recognised trial for the French 2000 Guineas.

“He ran well at Deauville and he’s come on for it,” said Curran.

“It was always kind of a question mark whether he’d be a miler and talking to Karl, he thinks he’d have enough boot for six furlongs, so we’re actually thinking about stepping him back.

“There’s a conditions race for him on Friday week in Newmarket, so he could go for something like that and we’ll see where we after that.

“He’s a horse we think a lot of and he’s definitely one to follow for the season. He’s shown a lot already and dropping back to six he should be all right.

“He’s another one we might aim at the Commonwealth Cup with if he goes back to six and runs well over six. We do hold him in high regard.”