SWINDON co-owner Gary Patchett is hoping a recently acquired four legged racer will collect victory later this week.
It might not have an engine, but it certainly has plenty of horse power.
Patchett fronts a consortium that owns Papal Bull, a five year old Horse.
The article below was recently featured in the Racing Post newspaper.
PAPAL BULL will carry new colours when he steps back into the ring in the Juddmonte Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday with the quest for Group 1 glory very much top of the agenda for the Montjeu horse.
The Papal Bull syndicate is fronted by the co-owner of Swindon Robins speedway Gary Patchett and Coolagown Stud boss David Stack.
Birmingham-based Patchett said: “We bought him in the early part of last summer and leased him back to Coolmore for the remainder of the Flat season.
“When we first bought him it looked like he had gone over the top. We bought him as a stallion and then he enhanced his stud value when won another Group 2 and another Group 3.”
Papal Bull's four Group wins include the Chester Vase and the King Edward VII at three and the syndicate are hoping Stoute's renowned brilliance with later maturing older horses can reap further reward.
Patchett added: “The plan was to retire at the end of last season but we spoke to Sir Michael before Christmas and he gave us every confidence he could win a top race and, on that basis, we kept him in training. If he can pick up a Group 1 then he would stand for twice as much when he goes to stud.
“He ran in the Japan Cup and he got uptight with the preliminaries and missed the break but he finished fast and was beaten only four lengths to Admire Moon and he may go back.
“He has entries in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Irish St Leger, a Group 1 in Cologne and the Arc and we are very much looking forward to getting him back in action.”
Papal Bull will face a maximum of 13 rivals in the Coronation Cup, including the likes of Andre Fabre's Getaway, last season's Champion Stakes winner Literato, and Macarthur, an impressive winner of the Ormonde Stakes on his last outing.
