Robert Masterson's Tepin has touched down in England and is safely ensconced at the Lambourn stable of David Lanigan as she continues her preparations for the group I Queen Anne Stakes June 14, first day of the prestigious Royal Ascot meet.
The Mark Casse-trained 5-year-old Bernstein mare left Churchill Downs at 3:30 p.m. local time June 6 before fulfilling quarantine requirements at Keeneland. She then traveled to Indianapolis, Ind., where her flight took off at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
After touching down at London Stansted, Tepin, last year's champion turf female, completed a two-hour road journey to Lambourn and arrived at Lanigan's stable at 10 p.m. local time.
"She is eating and drinking well, and we are thrilled with the way that she has shipped," said Casse Racing spokesperson Sarah Campion, who followed Tepin on a regular transatlantic passenger flight alongside the trainer's son, Norman. "She was roughly 23 hours in transit, or 25 hours by the time she reached David Lanigan's yard.
"Everyone at the stable has been wonderful and very accommodating, and we are really excited to be here. She will do some light exercise (the morning of June 9)."
A winner of her last six starts including the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) and two other grade I stakes, Tepin is one of 17 horses confirmed as possible runners in the Queen Anne Stakes, a £600,000 contest run at one mile on the straight.
She currently is the 4-1 favorite with the British bookmakers ahead of the French-trained Ervedya (a winner at last year's Royal Ascot meet) at 6-1, with the recent group I Lockinge Stakes winner Belardo third choice at odds of 7-1.
