Trainer John Gosden sent out two of his Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) contenders,
favorite Golden Horn (Cape Cross) and Jack Hobbs (Halling), for a spin around
the Derby course at Epsom’s “Breakfast With The Stars” Tuesday, and Gosden said
he was “happy” with the Dante S. (Eng-G2) one-two after watching each of them
train with a lead horse.
“I was very happy with them,” the conditioner said. “They relaxed well and
moved well down the hill. It was just a breezy piece of work. They are young
horses and it was a good experience for them to feel their way around the track.
It is a peculiar track and it is something that you can’t rehearse at home. They
will do a piece of work at the weekend and then we will be where we want to be
with them.”
Both Gosden runners have stamina questions to answer, but the trainer
expressed confidence.
“I am pretty sure that Jack Hobbs will get the trip and Golden Horn will
probably get it on account that he is very laid-back,” he said. “That will help
him as, if it is a true test, he will need to see out the mile and a half. I
think it is an interesting race, even though people have made it a bit
one-dimensional.”
Gosden described Golden Horn as “asleep” during his gallop, noting that
relaxation will help him get the trip, and jockey Frankie Dettori added, “Golden
Horn handled the track OK. He is a very laid-back character and he needs a crowd
to rev him up. He will be a better horse on the race day.”
William Buick, aboard Jack Hobbs, said, “Jack Hobbs felt very comfortable
coming down the hill. We didn’t press any buttons but he is still learning about
the game. Every step he takes is going forward. The ground was perfect for him
out there.”
Last year’s Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) winner Elm Park (Phoenix Reach),
third on seasonal debut in the Dante and among the leading fancies for the June
6 Derby, pleased his connections his racecourse gallop. Elm Park sat behind a
lead horse under jockey Andrea Atzeni rounding Tattenham Corner before
quickening in the lane to finish on top.
“I was pleased, and thought it was a nice bit of work,” Atzeni said. “He
traveled well behind his lead horse, who went a nice, even gallop. I let him
stretch his legs coming down the hill and he cruised to the front and quickened
up well. He had a good look in front and wandered around a bit, but he was
entitled to, as he’s never been here before.”
Trainer Andrew Balding added of the Qatar Racing colorbearer, “The main thing
was to let him have a feel for the track. It was not a fact-finding mission. He
had a hard race in the Dante but, to my surprise, by the Monday morning he was
fresh and well. You always worry the first run back after a long layoff may drag
them back but he seems fine.”
Elm Park leads an international team of Derby contenders for Sheikh Fahad,
which also includes Monday’s German Two Thousand Guineas (Ger-G2) scorer Karpino
(Cape Cross) and Prix Greffulhe (Fr-G2) winner Sumbal (Danehill Dancer), who
would both have to be supplemented.
“Karpino has come out of the race in great form,” said David Redvers, Qatar
Racing’s racing manager. “The big shame is that the German Guineas comes about
10 days too late and doesn’t really give a big enough window, but we will see
how he goes in the next few days. (Trainer) Andreas (Wohler) has talked about
him being a King George (Eng-G1) or Arc (Fr-G1) horse.
“It was the fastest time in the last 20 years of the German Guineas and he
was never off the bridle at any stage. To do that over a mile is quite
staggering, as he is bred to be a mile-and-a-half horse.”
Redvers added Sumbal is unlikely for the English Derby.
“A decision will be made later this week and I would say that the French
Derby (Fr-G1) is the favorite at the moment,” he noted.
Trainer David Wachman was on hand Tuesday, and he offered an upbeat bulletin
on his One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) scorer and Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) favorite
Legatissimo (Danehill Dancer).
“She seems very well and we are happy with her as she has done nothing
wrong,” the conditioner noted. Wachman said the 1 1/2-mile trip of the Oaks
should suit Legatissimo.
“A mile is as short as she would ever go, as a true-run mile sees her stamina
come into it. We have always liked her a lot. Last year she was quite big and
tall and we hoped she would maybe turn into a nice filly. She has definitely got
stronger since her win at Newmarket.”
Ryan Moore will once again partner Legatissimo at Epsom, meaning second
choice Crystal Zvezda (Dubawi), who won the May 16 Fillies’ Trial at Newbury
under Moore, will need a new rider.
“We have always liked her and she is a wonderful specimen,” trainer Sir
Michael Stoute said of Crystal Zvezda. “We are now going to work on getting her
a rider and hopefully have that organized in the next day or two.”
John Gosden was pleased with the performances of two of his Oaks contenders,
Musidora S. (Eng-G3) scorer Star of Seville (Duke of Marmalade) and Pretty Polly
S. winner Jazzi Top (Danehill Dancer), after they stretched their legs.
Of Star of Seville, Gosden said, “Although there is nothing in her pedigree
that says she will stay a mile and a half she is a big, strapping filly and we
were very happy with her today. She does not have to lead; she can sit second,
third or fourth, just as long as there is a good gallop she will be fine — she
just doesn’t want it to turn into a sprint.
“Jazzi Top is the same on pedigree and that last furlong here they go up
hill, but she is a real street fighter. Both fillies looked good together this
morning and they are two lovely fillies to bring here.”
Al Naamah (Galileo), the record-breaking five million-guineas purchase by
Sheikh Joaan al Thani at Tattersalls October two years ago, also made an
appearance at Epsom Tuesday. The Andre Fabre charge, a winner and Group
3-placed, has it in her pedigree to win this classic; she is a full-sister to
Was, who won this in 2012.
“She is a fantastic-looking filly with a great pedigree and is exactly what
we expected her to be,” Fabre said. “She is still big and backwards, but I think
she is ready for the Oaks. Bringing the horses over here for this is a great
addition to their training as these horses don’t see the bend downhill at home
and it also makes a big difference for the jockey as well.”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com