Sir Yoshi set for Royal run following Tipperary win

Sir Joshi (9/4f) finalised Royal Ascot preparations by winning at Tipperary today, as David Marnane's MRC International-owned colt landed the Tipperary (C&G) Maiden under jockey Luke McAteer.

Runner-up on Dundalk debut and then placed third behind a subsequent winner at Cork on May 10, Sir Yoshi today raced with the leaders and at the line, held Passing Phase by a half length.

Afterwards Marnane said “we like him but he obviously wants quicker ground than that (soft).

“I blame myself for the last day as I told Luke to take his time. He pinged the gates though and we ended up doing neither or, and they crowded him and he got intimidated. He came home well though and I wanted to get one more run into him before going to Ascot.

“He'll go for the Windsor (Castle Stakes) — shur why not, as he is tough and we don't know how good he is as he is very, very lazy. He is exceptionally lazy but yet he always seems to get there. His biggest attribute for Ascot is his relaxed temperament, which is what you need, and he has a bit of pace.”

Separately, Yoshi is a fictional dinosaur who appears in Nintendo video games.