Trainer John Oxx is keeping an eye on the forecast ahead of next Saturday’s
Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) and has warned that SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]) could
sidestep the contest if significant rain falls. Christopher Tsui’s English Two
Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) hero is rated “50-50” by his conditioner to last out
the 1 1/2-mile trip, and soft ground could mean he is taken out of the Blue
Riband.
“We want the ground riding fast next week at Epsom, with the obvious
questions about his stamina limitations,” Oxx told the Racing Post Weekender.
“I have to be honest and say I rate him only 50-50 to stay. If there was a wet
week leading up to the race and plenty of cut, I would seriously consider not
running him.”
Epsom’s Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper currently describes the ground as
on the soft side of good after 16mm of rain was registered on Tuesday.
Richard Hills will partner the Lingfield Derby Trial (Eng-G3) runner-up
MONTAFF (Montjeu [Ire]) in the Epsom Derby, according to trainer Mick Channon.
Hills is expected to get acquainted with the colt at Thursday’s “Breakfast with
the Stars” morning at the Surrey track. In his latest start, Montaff was a neck
second to Age of Aquarius (Galileo [Ire]) in the May 9 trial.
“(Montaff) had been held up with a splint problem, and so was entitled to
need it at Lingfield,” Channon said. “He was carrying condition and I’d expect
him to improve between five and 10 lengths. I’ll eat my hat if he doesn’t
surprise a few people in the Derby.”
Channon also revealed that Hills will renew his association with Jaber
Abdullah’s six-year-old YOUMZAIN (Sinndar) in the previous day’s Coronation Cup
(Eng-G1).
“The colt is going there just to see the track and will have a gentle breeze
round behind a lead horse,” Channon said. “I’m glad to get Richard, who has bags
of experience of Epsom.”
Sir Michael Stoute has ruled LEOCORNO (Pivotal) out of the Epsom Oaks
(Eng-G1), which will also take place one day prior to the Epsom Derby. Despite
the impressive five-length handicap win of Ballymacoll Stud’s unbeaten homebred
on Thursday, connections have opted out of the classic for which Stoute still
has Cheveley Park Stud’s Cheshire Oaks runner-up PHILLIPINA (Medicean) and
Khalid Abdullah’s Lingfield Oaks Trial second JULY JASMINE (Empire Maker) as
possibilities.
“We are not running Leocorno in the Oaks and we will make a final decision
about the participation of Phillipina and July Jasmine after they have worked at
the weekend,” Stoute told www.racingpost.co.uk. “(Jockey) Frankie Dettori is
available to ride in the Oaks, and if we run both of them, he could take the
ride on one of them.”