Carl Spackler Sold, to Target Royal Ascot, Australian Campaign

Multiple Grade I winner Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who raced in the colors of his breeder Bob Edwards, has been sold to Yulong Investments and will target Royal Ascot before embarking on a campaign in Australia, according to a report in Daily Racing Form.

Trained by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler won last year's GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap and GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes before ending the season with a sixth-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He returned this year to win the Apr. 11 GI Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland.

“It is a business,” Edwards told DRF's Dave Grening of the decision to sell his homebred. “We've had a lot of luck with him, not sure how commercially he'd be received [as a stallion prospect] in the States. The timing worked out.”

Carl Spackler worked four furlongs in :49.95 at Saratoga Sunday. The 5-year-old is expected to ship to England this week ahead of a start in the June 17 G1 Queen Anne Stakes for trainer Ciaron Maher, Edwards told DRF.

Following his engagement at the Royal Ascot meeting, Carl Spackler is expected to ship to Australia where the Oct. 25 G1 Cox Plate will be targeted.