Toast of New York passes class test in U.A.E. Derby

Toast of New York’s connections haven’t decided whether he’ll advance to the Kentucky Derby (Neville Hopwood/Dubai Racing Club)

U.S. Triple Crown nominee Toast of New York proved that he’s much more than a
Wolverhampton wonder when running out a commanding winner of Saturday’s Group 2,
$2 million U.A.E. Derby. Justifying trainer Jamie Osborne’s lofty opinion of
him, Michael Buckley’s colorbearer tracked the pace before storming 2 1/2
lengths clear in his stakes debut, and earned 100 points toward a possible tilt
at the Kentucky Derby.

Toast of New York was also giving jockey Jamie Spencer a World Cup night
double, following his victory aboard Certerach in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup.
Both came at the expense of better-fancied rivals. Toast of New York was
dispatched as an 11-1 outsider, with Godolphin’s U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas
hero Long John and Coolmore’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Giovanni
Boldini each attracting plenty of support at 8-5. But neither came close to
making an impact from off the pace in a race dominated by forwardly-placed
runners.

In the early going, Safety Check secured the lead. Toast of New York was
parked right off him in second, and traveling smoothly throughout, he launched
the winning move in the stretch. Stamping his authority in style, the son of
first-crop sire Thewayyouare drew off to complete about 1 3/16 miles on Tapeta
in 1:57 4/5.

“In my wildest dreams I didn’t expect him to win like that,” said Osborne, a
former National Hunt jockey in England.

“I could believe it because I am a believer,” laughed Buckley, also better
known for his winners in jumps racing. “I was nervous, shaky and it got worse
from there (while watching the race), but when I saw him hit the front, I
thought he would be very tough to pass. He’s got a high cruising speed.”

Jamie Spencer was scoring a rapid double after taking the Dubai Gold Cup one race earlier (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

Toast of New York advanced his scorecard to 5-3-1-0. Fifth in his career
debut on the turf at Leicester last August, he just missed next time on the
Kempton Polytrack, where the bit slipped through his mouth. He then demolished a
maiden on Wolverhampton’s Polytrack by 12 lengths, and concluded his juvenile
season with a 16-length conquest of a novice event at the same venue on November
1.

Aside from his engagement in the Triple Crown, Toast of New York also has
entries in the May 3 Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket and the June 28 Irish
Derby at the Curragh.

Connections are keeping all of the classic options open.

“It’s not impossible,” Osborne of a Kentucky Derby bid, “but I haven’t
thought about it yet.”

Spencer wouldn’t be drawn into offering an opinion on Toast of New York’s
chances on dirt at Churchill Downs.

“I’m the wrong person to be asking,” the rider said.