'He could be a Group 1 horse' - Probert buzzing about hot Chipotle ride

David Probert, still floating on cloud nine after the success of star juvenile Sandrine at Newmarket last week, hopes his fine run can continue at Newbury on Saturday when partnering Chipotle in the Weatherbys Super Sprint.

Bought for just 10,000gns as a yearling by trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and the Highflyer Bloodstock team, Chipotle has repaid that dividend handsomely by winning the Brocklesby and then the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

The Woodway 20-owned colt's regular rider Charlie Bishop is suspended, so connections have turned to Probert, who is enjoying a fine campaign – one he believes could be his best since he started riding in 2006.

Super Sprint entries and betting

He said: "With Charlie being banned, I think Eve came to the decision with the owners that they wanted to use me, so I'm thankful for that and it's a great opportunity.

"I'm good friends with Charlie, who has obviously put me in for the ride and I've ridden for Eve numerous times this season and had a bit of luck for her, which helps."

Chipotle is rated 105, which makes him the best horse on official figures in the race and is why bookmakers have him as the general 2-1 market leader for the £200,000 Super Sprint, which is for horses who cost no more than £63,000 at certain sales.

"He's a very exciting ride to get," Probert added. "He won decisively at Royal Ascot and looks the obvious one to beat. Charlie has always said to me that he thought this lad was going to be very special and potentially a Group 1 horse, so has Eve.

David Probert: Welsh-born rider is having a season to rememberCredit: Bill Selwyn (Getty Images)

"He looks very straightforward and has a very good turn of foot, and showed that acceleration in the last half-furlong at Ascot. Hopefully the ground dries up a bit because I think he'll prefer faster conditions, and we're due a warm spell.

"I'm hoping we're drawn around the fancied ones and I'll take it from there. There'd be a slight advantage to being drawn high than drawn low, but as long as we have pace to aim at he should be fine."

The 32-year-old Probert, who tied with fellow Andrew Balding graduate William Buick for the apprentice title in 2008, has since developed into one of the weighing room's most reliable and accomplished operators.

He has partnered 82 winners already this term, which gives him a wonderful platform to surpass the 112 he recorded in 2019, while the Balding-trained Sandrine, who won the Albany at Royal Ascot before following up in Newmarket's Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, is a horse Probert is pinning his dreams of big-race glory on.

Sandrine: Probert is sweet on the promising youngster who heads next year's 1,000 Guineas bettingCredit: Edward Whitaker

"On paper, it does stand out like it could be my best year and I'm hoping I've found one this year," he said of the juvenile who heads the early betting for next year's Qipco 1,000 Guineas.

"Riding a Royal Ascot winner on her was pleasing and it looks like she backed that up really well at Newmarket, so hopefully she can take me to the top-class level.

"Jockeys being allowed to ride at just one meeting probably does help with how things are going, but I worked hard in the winter and had a very good time on the all-weather before bouncing into the season on a good note. My agent Neil Allan does an amazing job getting me rides for various connections.

"I try to spread myself around as best I can and I still have Andrew, but it's getting on the right ones and I've been lucky to do that this year."

Super Sprint Stakes runners and riders

1 Raging William Buick
2 Zoltan Star Tom Marquand
3 Amazonian Dream Oisin Murphy
4 Chipotle David Probert
5 Adnaan Louis Steward
6 Gubbass Sean Levey
7 Delmona Jane Elliott
8 Latin Lover George Wood
9 Vintage Clarets Paul Hanagan
10 Prince Kendeux Richard Kingscote
11 Income Jamie Spencer
12 Mytilda Joey Haynes
13 Showtime Mahomes Sam James
14 Symphony Perfect Hayley Turner
15 Banner Moonshine Sam Hitchcott
16 Desert Andrea Atzeni
17 Rosa Mystica George Rooke
18 Russellinthebushes Darragh Keenan
19 El Maga Martin Dwyer
20 Guilded David Egan
21 Adaay In Asia Silvestre de Sousa
22 Sienna Bonnie Hollie Doyle

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