The Tin Man set for Royal Ascot

Prospects of The Tin Man becoming another Group winning sprinter by Equiano (Fr) moved a significant step closer after he made a winning return in the LR Leisure Stakes (1200m) at Windsor.

The James Fanshawe trained four-year-old showed he’s heading in that direction when enhancing his progressive profile on Monday. He was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot last October.

The Tin Man (4g Equiano - Persario by Bishop Of Cashel) firmed into $9 for the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot following a decisive two-length victory over Watchable (Pivotal) and Naadirr (Oasis Dream). "It's really good to get that first run under his belt and he will keep coming on,” Fanshawe said. "He improved so quickly last year and ran a very good race in the Champions Sprint.

"We wanted to drop him in today and, when Tom (Queally) pushed, he quickened up really well. He has got some big entries but we will just box clever. We would obviously love to run him in the Diamond Jubilee although he doesn't want the ground rock-hard."

Equiano has been in superb form this month starting with four winners in France (2), Australia and England on May Day.

The Swettenham Stud shuttler pushed through $1 million in Australian earnings when the Paul Perry trained Archduke won on May 8 and he’s entrenched in the Top 10 Australian second-season sires’ premiership for prizemoney, winners and wins.

Equiano topped the 2015 English second-season premiership for wins (64) defeating Zebedee (61) & Paco Boy (51). And he’s in front again this term with the winners of 20 races from Arcano (18) and Zebedee (17).

Swettenham Stud stands Equiano for a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee.

Hoofnote: Fellow Equiano stakes winner Strath Burn was an encouraging first-up fourth in the Leisure Stakes, beaten three lengths by The Tin Man. He claimed the G3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last year before going down a short-head in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup.

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