Air Force One aimed at Listed target at Ascot
Geoff Oldroyd has confirmed that Air Force One will step up to Listed company for the BetMGM Rous Stakes at Ascot on October 3 following a productive summer campaign.
Progressive sprinter to tackle stiff five furlongs
The five-year-old has enjoyed a consistent season, recording his third success of the year in the Portland at Doncaster. That victory prompted a 4lb increase in his official rating this week, taking him to a new career-high of 102.
Oldroyd believes the stiff five-furlong configuration at Ascot will suit the gelding’s attributes and has elected to pursue the Listed Rous Stakes as his next assignment.
Trainer assessing strengths and limitations
Oldroyd reports that Air Force One has strengthened with age and that some manageable issues have been overcome during the campaign. The gelding wears a visor and, according to his handler, is straightforward in temperament.
While the trainer is encouraged by the horse’s progress, he acknowledged that the recent rise in rating alters how connections view handicap options. He noted that although the gelding previously handled a hefty burden in a novelty contest — carrying 11st when successful in the jump jockeys’ Nunthorpe last season — the weight demands of top handicaps may be less suitable at his current mark.
Where the Rous Stakes fits in the calendar
The BetMGM Rous Stakes is staged at Ascot in the early October fixture and is frequently used as a platform for sprinters stepping into pattern or Listed company late in the season. For a horse such as Air Force One, a solid showing at Ascot would confirm his latest progression and potentially open further opportunities at black-type level.
What to expect
- Air Force One arrives off a win in the Portland at Doncaster and a rating rise to 102.
- Connections favour Ascot’s stiff five-furlong test as an ideal trip for the gelding.
- A Listed success would mark a significant step up from the competitive handicaps he has been contesting this year.
The move to Ascot offers a straightforward next test for a sprinter whose form has developed steadily over the season. With the Rous Stakes on the horizon, racegoers and followers of the sprinter division will be keen to see whether Air Force One can translate his handicap form into black-type success at one of Britain’s principal meeting venues.
This article may have been prepared in whole or in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
