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Group 2, Sandown 15:00
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4yo plus,
1m, Class 1  
Friday 25th Apr 2025

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Tyrrhenian Sea is set to leave the all-weather scene behind this spring as connections opt for a return to turf, with this earmarked as a likely early-season target.

After solid efforts over 10 furlongs in the Churchill Stakes and Quebec Stakes last year, Roger Varian’s grey showed a real turn of foot when dropped back to a mile at Lingfield last month, storming to Listed success in the Tandridge Stakes, brushing aside the high-class Maljoom.

A proven force on the synthetic surfaces—placing in the Winter Derby last season and going agonizingly close in the Easter Classic in 2022—the seven-year-old now looks set to stick to shorter trips for the foreseeable future.

Having been removed from the William Hill Lincoln, Group Two gold at Sandown is the next big objective, as racing manager Alan Cooper confirmed: "We’re not sticking to the all-weather. It’s still early days, but we’re aiming for the Sandown Mile on April 25—the race Charyn won last year."

Beyond that, Royal Ascot could be on the agenda, with Cooper adding: "Roger’s plan is to keep him at a mile for now. He’s had a break, and we’ll get him ready for the turf season."

Meanwhile, a positive bulletin has emerged on Passenger, the one-time Classic contender sidelined since July. Following the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute, the five-year-old has moved across Newmarket to join George Scott’s yard, and early signs are promising.

"He’s in training and doing well," Cooper reported. "It’s too early to make plans, but so far, so good. These things take time, so we’ll just be patient."

With Tyrrhenian Sea ready to make waves back on grass and Passenger on the road to recovery, there’s plenty to look forward to for the Niarchos family this season.

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