Tag Archive for: Eydon

Eydon back on familiar ground at Newmarket this weekend

One-time Derby hope Eydon will return to the scene of his finest hour on Saturday attempting to build on his encouraging Ayr return in the German Group One Racecourses James Seymour Stakes.

The son of Olden Times thrived at Newmarket in the early stages of his career, winning the Feilden Stakes in 2022 and finishing fourth in the following month’s 2000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile when in the care of Roger Varian.

His career has been plagued by setbacks since, and now trained by Andrew Balding, he has made the track just twice since disputing Classic honours behind Coroebus.

Although finishing well held in the Winter Derby earlier in the year, there were much more positive signs at Ayr when beaten just half a length in the Doonside Cup in September.

He will now do battle once again at Listed level at Newmarket, where connections are hopeful he can make a long-awaited return to the winner’s enclosure as the joint-highest rated of the five engaged.

“Hector Crouch is going to ride and we’re hopeful. The owner has been really patient and we would love to see him continue for a bit and maybe bag something big,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser to Eydon’s Prince Faisal.

“It’s baby steps first and it would be nice to get another Listed race won and after that I think we would then wait until next year if everything went well.

“It will be slightly different ground than the Feilden but hopefully he might enjoy it, he’s the highest rated and we’re hoping for the best.”



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Eydon camp trying not to get carried away following positive comeback

Connections of Eydon are keeping an open mind as to whether they take up their BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes entry on Saturday, with Newbury’s St Simon Stakes later this month another possible option.

Fourth in the 2000 Guineas in 2022, he has suffered his fair share of setbacks during his career and having been nursed back to full fitness by trainer Andrew Balding, showed his engine firmly remained intact when second in Ayr’s Doonside Cup recently.

Eydon has encouragingly returned from his trip to Scotland – and that first run in 210 days – in good order and if not making an immediate return to Group company at Ascot this weekend, he is likely to do so at Newbury on October 26.

“Andrew is happy and has said let’s look at the race at Ascot. He also nominated the St Simon Stakes straight after Ayr, so I would say it would be one or the other he will run in,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser for owner Prince Faisal.

“The good news is he is sound, which has been the intermittent problem for us since he has been a three-year-old.

“The opposition looks quite strong. If he doesn’t appear on Saturday we will hopefully see him in the St Simon.”

Given his injury history, the team behind the five-year-old are never keen to look too far into the future.

However, a positive showing in his next assignment could trigger some exciting international raids, with first Europe and ultimately valuable prizes in the Middle East tentatively on the radar.

Eydon in action on the gallops
Eydon in action on the gallops (John Walton/PA)

“There are a few options abroad,” continued Voute.

“There’s a race in France he’s in and we’re looking at a race in Milan and, if we got the ultimate result in our next race and he performed really creditably or even won, then there is a Group One in Germany we might look at later on.

“Although I don’t want to tempt fate, which I seem to have done so many times with this horse, and we’d rather take baby steps first.

“No one has committed to the Middle East yet and the closest we’ve got (to contemplating it) is acknowledging there is a lot of prize-money on offer for him during the winter if we can keep him right and he is showing he’s of that class.

“A lot will depend on his next run, if that is positive we can then start looking further afield.”



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Remaat connections keen to kick on from Newmarket romp

Remaat could be set for a step up in class having opened her account in impressive fashion at Newmarket on Saturday.

Although well held on debut, the daughter of Kodiac showed significant improvement to finish second to subsequent Empress Stakes runner-up Tales Of The Heart in a hot Kempton maiden, before bolting up at the third attempt when upped to seven furlongs on the July course.

The Andrew Balding-trained youngster was a commanding four and a half lengths clear of Richard Hannon’s one-time Woodcote favourite New Charter at the finish of that contest and connections could now make the move into Pattern company on Remaat’s next start.

“I think she will be nice and winning four and a half lengths, we were obviously very pleased with her,” said Ted Voute, racing manager to owner Prince Faisal.

“Andrew has always thought a lot of this filly right from the beginning and we toyed with Royal Ascot but didn’t quite get her there – that’s the sort of level he was thinking.

“Now she is running over this trip, she seems to have come into her own, I know Oisin (Murphy, jockey) was pleased.

“I haven’t spoken to Andrew or the Prince, but there’s a seven-furlong Listed race at Sandown (Star Stakes, July 25) and the Sweet Solera back at Newmarket (August 10) I suppose.

“That’s what I was thinking, but I need to speak with Andrew and the Prince and see what they are thinking. Hopefully we have a nice filly.”

Balding and Prince Faisal’s Royal Ascot runner-up Hopeful is another who could go hunting black type if the opportunity arises.

Hopeful (left) went down fighting at Royal Ascot
Hopeful (left) went down fighting at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

The daughter of Make Believe was denied by a head in the Kensington Palace Stakes when bumping into Ralph Beckett’s Doha and her team are now perusing the programme book for a suitable contest.

“We’re hoping to find a bit of black type for Hopeful, who was second in the Kensington Palace at Ascot,” continued Voute.

Meanwhile, there was also a positive update on the wellbeing of Eydon, who was well-touted for the 2022 Derby having finished fourth in that year’s 2000 Guineas, but has had his fair share of injury woes in the time since.

Eydon winning at Newmarket as a three-year-old
Eydon winning at Newmarket as a three-year-old (Tim Goode/PA)

Last seen finishing well held in the Winter Derby following a 665-day absence, a patient approach is being taken ahead of a possible return later in the year.

Voute added: “Eydon has just started back cantering, he’s been on the treadmill and is taking his time coming back slowly.

“We hope to get him back for the back-end of the season, so fingers crossed he stays in one piece.”



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Eydon camp turn attentions to turf campaign

Connections of Eydon are retaining plenty of faith despite the five-year-old not reading the script on his return from a long layoff in the Winter Derby.

A one-time Derby hope when trained by Roger Varian, the son of Olden Times had been off the track for 665 days when making his stable debut for Andrew Balding in the Southwell Group Three last Saturday.

Sent off the 15-2 fourth favourite of six, he was always towards the rear of the field in the hands of Kevin Stott and trailed home seven and a half lengths adrift of the winner Military Order.

The post-race vets report stated that Eydon finished lame on his left hind, but he has since trotted up fine back home at Kingsclere, with his team now eyeing the turf season and Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes on May 23 mooted as a possible early objective.

“He was trotted up the next day and they said he was fine but scratchy behind, and then the day after he was at exercise,” explained Ted Voute, racing advisor to Eydon’s owner Prince Faisal.

“It said left hind in the vet report, so maybe he tied up, but I’ve talked to Andrew twice since and he said he’s been ridden and, as far as he is concerned, everything is fine. He may have tweaked something in the race after having so much time off.

“We’re not going to Dubai, but Andrew has talked about the Brigadier Gerard. I think the next week or two will tell us more, but so far there are more positives than the vet report.”



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Long-term absentee Eydon poised for Winter Derby comeback

Eydon will bid to honour his sire Olden Times when he makes his eagerly-awaited return from 665 days off the track in the BetUK Winter Derby at Southwell.

An impressive winner of the Feilden Stakes when trained by Roger Varian in 2022, he was last seen finishing fourth to Coroebus in that year’s 2000 Guineas, with an injury sustained in the build-up to the 2022 Derby the start of a plethora of issues that have kept him sidelined for almost two years.

Now in training with Andrew Balding, he sat out the whole of the 2023 season, but is reported to be in rude health following a recent racecourse gallop at Kempton and will be partnered for the first time by Kevin Stott when lining up in the Group Three event, which for the first time will be run over 11 furlongs.

“He went for a racecourse gallop the other day with Andrew and it seemed to go satisfactory,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser to Eydon’s owner Prince Faisal.

“His last run was in the Guineas when he was fourth. It will be some training feat to get him back and to the level of fitness required to run creditably after such a length of time off. But, touch wood, Andrew is pleased with him and thinks he will run a nice race.

“It’s a pretty even field and they are all rated around the same figures apart from Lord North and we will see.”

Connections will not only be hoping Eydon’s Rolleston appearance can book a trip to the Middle East for Dubai World Cup night next month, but also that the five-year-old can pay an on-course tribute to his sire, who died earlier this month at the age of 25.

Eydon was once a contender for the Derby
Eydon was once a contender for the Derby (John Walton/PA)

“He has an entry in Dubai (in the Sheema Classic), but that is rather far-fetched at the moment. He would have to beat Lord North or run very respectably against him, but we will see how we get on,” said Voute.

“We keep our fingers crossed and his owner has had incredible faith in him and patience which in this day and age is quite unusual.

“He loves the sire line and sadly Eydon’s father Olden Times passed away two weekends ago from old age. It would lovely if he could replace him somehow, but he’s got a lot to do before he does that.”



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Eydon poised for Winter Derby comeback

Eydon is pencilled in to make his long-awaited debut for Andrew Balding in next month’s BetUK Winter Derby.

The five-year-old was previously trained by Roger Varian, winning the 2022 Feilden Stakes before finishing fourth to Coroebus in the 2000 Guineas, beaten just four and a quarter lengths.

However, Eydon has not run since that Classic date two years ago, with a series of injury setbacks keeping him on the sidelines before he moved to the care of Balding ahead of the 2023 campaign.

The son of Olden Times missed his intended first start for the yard at Sandown in September, but Balding reports him to be in good form ahead of the February 24 contest at Southwell.

He said: “Eydon has a very high level of form, although it has been some time since he was last on the track. He has had a few niggles, but we are really pleased with him at the moment and the Winter Derby is very much the plan.

“The intention is to go straight there without a run – we feel that is the right thing to do.”

Balding also has Dante Stakes winner The Foxes and Teumessias Fox in the Group Three, but neither appear likely to run in the Winter Derby.

The trainer added: “I am very happy with The Foxes. Our preferred option for him is the Saudi Cup meeting, but he is likely to run in the Winter Derby Trial at Southwell on January 25 as a prep. We will see how that goes and then make a decision on what to do next.

“Our other entry Teumessias Fox will stay in handicaps for the time being. He has ability and we felt it was worth giving him the option, just in case the race cuts up.”

Last year’s winner and multiple Group One scorer Lord North is one of 22 entries for the race, which will be taking place at Southwell for the first time.

Previously run over a mile and a quarter at Lingfield since its inception in 1998, the switch to Southwell has prompted an increase in distance to 11 furlongs.

David Attwood, Southwell’s clerk of the course, said: “We do not have a 10-furlong start and, when we looked at whether we could introduce one, it was only about 20 yards from the start of the bend.

“It also would have meant coming on and off the track via the turf course, which was not viable, so the British Horseracing Authority kindly allowed us to change the race distance to a mile and three furlongs.

“It is exciting because the BetUK Winter Derby will be the first Group race run here at Southwell, while the same card also features the Listed BetUK Hever Sprint.”

Lord North is one of five entries for John and Thady Gosden, along with Lion’s Pride and Middle Earth, who both enjoyed Listed success on their latest starts, 2021 Winter Derby winner Forest Of Dean and progressive handicapper Vaguely Royal.

Australian Group One winner Dubai Honour and Mujtaba have been entered by William Haggas, with Jean-Claude Rouget’s Glaer another eyecatching possible.



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Eydon back to seek Fortune and fame at Sandown

Eydon is out to prove the fire still burns brightly when he returns from a long absence in the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes at Sandown.

The one-time Derby hope created a real impression when winning the Feilden Stakes in the spring of 2022, but has not been seen on a racecourse since finishing fourth in last year’s 2000 Guineas, with a series of injury setbacks keeping him on the sidelines.

Switched from Roger Varian to Andrew Balding prior to the 2023 season, another issue arose in the spring to extend his layoff, but the son of Olden Times is finally ready to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance after 508 days out of action.

Connections had been weighing up a run at Sandown with a trip to Ayr for the four-year-old’s comeback outing, but it is the Esher track that will be graced with the presence of Prince Faisal’s colt on Wednesday afternoon.

Eydon was seen as a live candidate for the Derby before getting injured last season
Eydon was seen as a live candidate for the Derby before getting injured last season (John Walton/PA)

“I think Andrew felt that, on reflection, going up to Ayr after such a long lay-off, it was easier to go just down the road to Sandown,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser to Eydon’s owner.

“Andrew seems quite optimistic, Oisin (Murphy, jockey) has ridden him at home and in his work he seems to have stayed in one piece this time.

“I think everyone feels he might be a little bit ring rusty and he is running over a mile rather than a little bit further, but it is a great place to start and it will give us a good indication of whether he progresses to something major this year or stays in training and we tackle it next year.”

Eydon holds an entry for the Qipco Champion Stakes on October 21 with the Ascot contest seen as the perfect spot for the colt to return to Group One competition if passing his Fortune Stakes test.

However, connections are well aware it would take a mammoth effort following such a long layoff and they will simply be satisfied with a run full of encouragement at Sandown.

“Ascot would be the dream, but in reality it is one step at a time and let’s see what happens in the aftermath of this race,” continued Voute.

“We are hopeful, but we are all well aware it is a big ask following the amount of time he has had off.

“While we have that target (Ascot) sitting there, it is not the be-all and end-all, and as long as he came back in one piece and showed he had that brilliance of the Feilden and fourth in the Guineas, then he can build on that in the forthcoming year.

“It’s a credit to Prince Faisal who has kept faith and it means quite a bit to him that he is by Olden Times, who he also raced. It’s a lot of his own breeding on both the female side and the sire which is rare nowadays and I think it is a credit to him as an owner to keep persevering.”

Also on the comeback trail is William Knight’s Sir Busker, who has been off the track since finishing down the field in the Dubai Turf in March.

The evergreen seven-year-old suffered an eye infection while in Dubai and his owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds are delighted to see him return in a race which could determine future aspirations.

“We are thrilled to see him back, that will be great and we’re really looking forward to it,” said Sam Hoskins, racing manager for the owners.

Sir Busker hasn't been seen since racing in Dubai in March
Sir Busker hasn’t been seen since racing in Dubai in March (Megan Ridgwell/PA)

“He got an eye infection in Dubai, but he is ready to resume which is brilliant.

“I think Sandown should suit him well, but he’ll improve for the run whatever he does. It’s not all about winning on Wednesday, we just hope he runs a nice race and shapes well for the future.

“If all goes well then he will be kept on the go. There’s races for him at Newmarket and we could consider the all-weather or the Middle East as well, depending on how he gets on.

“We don’t have any grand future entries, but there are plenty of options and it will just be great to see him back and he owes his syndicate members nothing.”

Haydock winner Chindit is quickly back in action
Haydock winner Chindit is quickly back in action (Tim Goode/PA)

Richard Hannon’s Chindit makes a swift return to action having claimed a Group Three at Haydock recently, while Simon and Ed Crisford’s Celebration Mile runner-up Knight will sport first-time cheekpieces when he lines up at the Esher track.

Roger Varian claimed the Listed event with subsequent Queen Elizabeth II Stakes scorer Bayside Boy 12 months ago and it is somewhat interesting he saddles the half-brother Lord Of Biscay in a bid to do the double.

A total of 10 will go to post including Dylan Cunha’s improving Silver Sword who will compete in Pattern company for the first time.



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Eydon poised to make racecourse return, with Ascot possible

One-time Derby fancy Eydon is creeping towards an eagerly-awaited return to the racecourse later this month, with connections dreaming of teeing-up a shot at Ascot’s Qipco Champion Stakes later in the autumn.

The lightly-raced colt’s progress has been curtailed by injury and having advertised his talent with a taking success at Newmarket in the Feilden Stakes, he returned to the Rowley Mile to finish an honourable fourth behind Coroebus when getting a first taste of Classic action in the 2000 Guineas.

He was on course for a second bite of the Classic cherry in the Derby when a setback ruled him out of the race, and his 2000 Guineas appearance remains Eydon’s last sighting on a racecourse.

Switched to Andrew Balding from Roger Varian over the winter, it was anticipated he would return to the track in the early stages of the 2023 season, but a further issue in the spring ruled him out of the key summer months.

An outing at Listed level in either the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes at Sandown (September 20) or Ayr’s Virgin Bet Doonside Cup Stakes (September 23) is on the radar, before a possible big-race tilt on British Champions Day (October 21), providing Eydon shows he retains all of his old ability.

“Oisin Murphy was on him at Andrew’s and seemed happy and we’re going to either the Doonside Cup or the Fortune Stakes,” said Ted Voute, owner Prince Faisal’s racing adviser.

Eydon has been off the track since preparing to run in last year's Derby
Eydon has been off the track since preparing to run in last year’s Derby (John Walton/PA)

“He’s probably going to be a bit ring-rusty, but the aim is to see if we can get him to the Champion Stakes.

“It’s a big ask and he’s had lots of little niggly things along the way, but from what Andrew has seen, he has seen sparks of good things on the gallops and touch wood he’s still in one piece and that will be the plan.

“We’ll see how we go and we thought it was a good idea to have a target, because if he came out and was as good as he was in the Feilden Stakes then we would have a bash. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”



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Guineas fourth Eydon meets with further setback

Last year’s 2000 Guineas fourth Eydon will not be seen until the autumn having met with a fresh setback.

The son of Olden Times won the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket last season which set up a return to the Rowley Mile for the Classic.

He outran odds of 33-1 to finish fourth behind Coroebus and having shaped like a step up in trip would suit, connections began dreaming of Derby glory at Epsom.

Eydon ridden by David Egan during the gallops morning ahead of the Cazoo Derby 2022
Eydon ridden by David Egan during the gallops morning ahead of the Cazoo Derby 2022 (John Walton/PA)

However, a setback during the week of the big race saw him cruelly ruled out of the blue riband and he has been on the sidelines ever since.

Switched from Roger Varian to Andrew Balding, it was hoped Eydon would return to the track in the early stages of the 2023 season. But a further problem means he will now miss the key summer months, with connections eying an autumn return.

“He’s had another setback so we won’t see him until the autumn unfortunately,” said Ted Voute, owner Prince Faisal’s racing advisor.

“We were sort of thinking about the Brigadier Gerard and I was relishing maybe meeting last year’s Derby winner (Desert Crown). But we have had to back off him and he’ll be back in the autumn.”



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