Goldie's Group 1 Winner American Affair On Track To Return At York

Group 1-winning sprinter American Affair is on course to return at the Dante Festival at York, according to trainer Jim Goldie, who is eyeing a repeat win in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot with his stable star.

The six-year-old provided the Scottish trainer with a breakthrough Group 1 victory in that race last June before suffering a leg issue.

It was hoped he would return for the Breeders' Cup or Champions Day, but Goldie confirmed the son of Washington DC is on schedule with his recovery and should line up for the Group 2 over six furlongs at York on May 13, now called the Minster Stakes.

“He's doing fine, hopefully we are on schedule,” Goldie said. “We are being very careful and he is coming very slow to hand.

“He's been going quite quiet, he hasn't done any fast work yet. We're just working him back slowly but he seems grand.

“The recovery is going to schedule. We've got access to two very excellent vet colleges in Glasgow and Edinburgh, he's been bone scanned, had MRIs and X-rays so it's going to plan. It will be interesting to see him return higher up the pyramid.”

He added, “We've pencilled him in for the Minster Stakes. I'd prefer five furlongs, but the choices are kind of limited at five furlongs for him.

“He's won at York, he's obviously won over five. It is a good place to start. We'll take it one step at a time, the aim is to go for the same race at Royal Ascot and then if we achieve that we will make a plan after that. That plan worked well last year, hopefully we can do a repeat.”