Gerard Butler’s confident Pachattack can stake her claims for a Classic tilt

13 April 2012

Gerard Butler expects Pachattack to book her Oaks ticket when she runs in York's Musidora Stakes tomorrow.

The filly faces five opponents in the Group 3 event, a recognised trial for the Epsom Classic on 5 June.

And the trainer, who celebrates his first year at Newmarket since uprooting from Oxfordshire, is bullish about her chances of landing the prestigious 10-furlong race.

He said: "I am really looking forward to running her. She has been accused of not staying 10 furlongs, but she will get a mile and a half no problem."

Pachattack has won just one of her five races, a seven-furlong maiden at Goodwood last July. She was fifth to Take The Hint on her seasonal debut in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket, when she raced alone down the stands' side. But Butler admitted: "We got the game-plan completely wrong and I take complete responsibility. She will be seen in a much better light.

"Though she doesn't have an Oaks entry and needs to book herself a ticket, I'd be confident she can."

But Pachattack may have to play second fiddle to the Queen's twice-raced, unbeaten Enticement (2.40).

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore, the daughter of Montjeu can make a winning seasonal debut.
Enticement, 9-1 third favourite with Skybet behind Fantasia and Midday for the Oaks, won over a mile in at Newmarket in November and is bred to blossom over middle distances.

Moore has a great book of rides, including Strike The Deal (3.10) in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes.

Jeremy Noseda gave the colt a pipe-opener over five furlongs in a Group 3 at Newmarket this month and Strike The Deal stayed on well behind Amour Propre over an inadequate trip.

Moore opens the card on Stone Of Scone, whom he rode to beat Red Jade by a neck at Nottingham last time.

But Saeed bin Suroor's Moonquake (1.40) is preferred. Proven on fast ground last summer, he has been running consistently in better races on the dirt in Dubai over the winter.

Photographic (2.10) looked a smart filly when she followed up her Kempton maiden win with victory over a mile at Newmarket on her second start. While she didn't beat a lot, she travelled well and quickened impressively. The drop back to seven furlongs here should not be a hindrance.

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