Tag Archive for: Jayarebe

Meehan eyeing more Breeders’ Cup Turf glory with Jayarebe

Jayarebe can cap an excellent campaign when he bids to give Brian Meehan a third win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

The Zoffany colt has not let his connections down throughout a fantastic season that has seen him win three of his five starts and score in both the Hampton Court Stakes and at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend.

The Royal Ascot hero – who will again be ridden by Sean Levey – now heads to California looking to follow in the footsteps of Red Rocks (2006) and Dangerous Midge (2010), who have both won this event for the Manton handler in the past.

Jayarebe after winning the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot
Jayarebe after winning the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Meehan said: “He’s an adaptable type of horse and Sean knows him so well. The trip’s good, and he will switch between 10 and 12 furlongs next year.

“This has been on Jayarebe’s radar since the spring and all his form is good, whether you look at the Dollar, the Hampton Court or the Feilden.

“The Breeders’ Cup is my favourite meeting and it’s wonderful to be back. To win a championship race on another continent is very special.”

Also with history in the Turf are John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, who teamed up to win this race with the great Enable in 2018 and are reunited Stateside with Emily Upjohn.

Frankie Dettori was reunited with Emily Upjohn on Wednesday
Frankie Dettori was reunited with Emily Upjohn on Wednesday (Neil Morrice/PA)

The evergreen Italian, who relocated to America at the end of the 2023 British Flat season, has ridden the daughter of Sea The Stars to both her previous Group One victories and is a fitting pilot for what could be her career swansong.

Aidan O’Brien won this event with Auguste Rodin 12 months ago and will saddle both Luxembourg and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes runner-up Wingspan.

Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star Rebel’s Romance looks to recapture the title he won in 2022, having regained the winning thread at Cologne in the Preis Von Europa.

“Everybody knows about Rebel’s Romance, who always runs with his heart on his sleeve, and I was delighted with his run in Germany,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

Rebel's Romance after his victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf
Rebel’s Romance after his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (PA)

“He left there with credit, as they went hard, while the winner and second came from off the pace. He was just getting a bit tired in the last hundred yards, and William (Buick, jockey) said he will improve a ton.

“This horse has built up his own fan club, and it would be fantastic if he were to win it again.”

The Godolphin trainer also has a strong hand in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love.

Both fillies have built up plenty of experience in America as part of Appleby’s satellite team and could give the handler his second victory in the race here at Del Mar, having saddled Wuheida to strike in 2017.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has a fine record at the Breeders' Cup
Trainer Charlie Appleby has a fine record at the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton for The Jockey Club/PA)

“Cinderella’s Dream won a race which was strange to watch and then had a long ship to Woodbine, where she had a touch of colic and couldn’t run,” said Appleby.

“I toyed with running her in the Queen Elizabeth but decided against it and now she looks great, and ready to go.

“Beautiful Love won a Grade Three in the Big A and was unlucky on her second start. She deserves to be there.”

Soprano was a winner at Royal Ascot winner
Soprano was a winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Other British interest is provided by George Boughey’s Royal Ascot heroine Soprano, who has remained in the States since picking up a silver medal in Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last month and now tries a mile and three furlongs for the first time in her career.

“She looks great and she has stayed out here since Keeneland when she was second in the QEII,” said Harry Herbert, managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

“I think she will get the trip round here and Billy Loughnane is convinced she needs that trip now to be seen at her best effect, so let’s hope he is right. You never know until you try.”



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Gosden playing waiting game with Emily Upjohn

John Gosden is keeping his options open ahead of Emily Upjohn’s outing at the Breeders’ Cup next week.

The versatile five-year-old has enjoyed Group One success at both 10 furlongs and a mile and a half and featured among the pre-entries for both the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the longer Breeders’ Cup Turf against the colts and geldings at Del Mar.

Emily Upjohn is Paddy Power’s 5-2 favourite for the mile-and-a-quarter race against her own sex having chased home Arc heroine Bluestocking and ParisLongchamp runner-up Aventure in the Prix Vermeille when last seen.

However, Gosden, who trains the daughter of Sea The Stars in conjunction with son Thady, is content to remain in both races as long as possible before pinning his colours to a particular mast.

Emily Upjohn (left) has locked horns with Bluestocking on a couple of occasions this term
Emily Upjohn (left) has locked horns with Bluestocking on a couple of occasions this term (Damien Eagers/PA)

Gosden said: “She ran very well, third in the Prix Vermeille the other day and obviously the winner won the Arc, so that’s rock-solid form and again, she was second to the same filly in Ireland in the Pretty Polly, so she’s run very solidly.

“We might look at the Turf on Monday – you’re allowed to double enter and when you double enter, you look at the races and see what you think so there’s a possibility.

“She’s run against the colts before, the starting stalls are at the beginning of the back stretch rather than the furlong, you’ve got more of a run down the back, so that’s an advantage as well.

“The draw is very important at Del Mar – if you start getting high draws, and double numbers, things start getting quite complicated.”

One horse definitely going for the Turf is the Brian Meehan-trained Jayarebe. The Zoffany colt has been a real star for his Manton yard, being out of the first three just once in seven career starts.

His efforts this year have included wins in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot and most recently the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend. Sandwiched in between those runs was a fine effort against Economics at Deauville.

Should he come out on top in California, he would be a third winner of the race for Meehan, after Red Rocks (2006) and Dangerous Midge (2010).

“We’re delighted with Jayarebe – he’s been in great form since winning in France. He works tomorrow (Friday) and flies out early Saturday morning. Sean Levey will ride him,” said Meehan.

“The form of the Prix Dollar has really been boosted and we’re delighted with him heading into the Breeders’ Cup.

“We’ve been fortunate to have great success at the Breeders’ Cup in the past and we’re looking forward to it.”

He added: “We believe the mile-and-a-half trip in America will suit him perfectly. It’s brilliant to have Sean on board. He knows the colt very well and he’s riding so well at the moment.”



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Jayarebe cashes in for Meehan with Dollar success

Brian Meehan’s Jayarebe had to be brave to add the Prix Dollar to his Royal Ascot success.

The Zoffany colt won the Hampton Court Stakes in June and has only been seen in action once since then, running a very creditable race behind subsequent Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics at Deauville.

Back in France at ParisLongchamp, Sean Levey was determined to make it a true test and led the Group Two field turning into the straight.

He looked a sitting duck as first Anmaat, the winner two years ago, and then Calif loomed upsides apparently going the better.

However, Jayarebe saw both of them off before Ryan Moore, looking for a fourth winner on the card, delivered Almaqam and while he was closing with every stride he could not quite get on terms.

“The horse is on an upward curve, he started in a Listed race at Newmarket in the spring and is going through each stage,” said Meehan.

“Maybe there’s a horse out there one day that will give him a proper lead, he had to do it all himself today but credit to Ed Walker’s horse as he gave him a race inside the last 100 yards. There’s so much more to come.

“We’ll see about the Breeders’ Cup, we’ll get him home, it was a long journey here so we’ll take it from there. I’d have no worries about stepping up to a mile and a half for the (Breeders’ Cup) Turf and he stays in training.

“I was slightly concerned about the ground but Sean said he was fine, so he’s proving versatile, he’s very exciting and he’s got a great owner. It’s great for the team at home as well.”



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Paris the next stop for Meehan’s Jayarebe

Jayarebe, who was last seen chasing home Economics in France, is being readied for another cross-Channel assignment.

Winner of the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the Brian Meehan-trained Jayarebe finished a clear second to last weekend’s Irish Champion Stakes hero in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in mid-August and is now being pointed at a Group Two prize on Arc weekend in Paris.

“The form obviously looks strong and he’s going for the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend,” said Meehan.

“That will lead us on to the next step, which could well be the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but we’ll see.”

Brian Meehan at Chester
Brian Meehan at Chester (Mike Egerton/PA)

Meehan also has big-race plans for his promising juvenile pair of Law Of Design and Rashabar.

Law Of Design confirmed the promise of his debut third at Newmarket with an impressive victory at Ascot on his second start, while Coventry Stakes hero Rashabar – runner-up to Whistlejacket in the Prix Morny last time out – has Group One options at home and abroad.

Meehan added: “Law Of Design is in great form and we’ll look at the Royal Lodge (September 28) or the Autumn Stakes (October 12) at Newmarket, depending on how he is.

“At the moment Rashabar heads for the Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend and we’ll see how it goes. I don’t think we have to make any definitive plans with him because the owners are patient.

“He worked this morning and worked very well and everybody is very happy. The Dewhurst is there as well and there’s always the Breeders’ Cup for him, so there’s lots of options and we won’t make a decision until we have to.

“We’ll play it all by ear and I don’t want to commit to anything with him at the moment.”



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All eyes will be on Economics at Deauville on Thursday

Dante winner Economics takes on Royal Ascot hero Jayarebe as the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano throws up a mouthwatering midweek treat at Deauville on Thursday.

The William Haggas-trained Economics was a six-length winner York’s Derby trial in mid-May, but connections resisted the temptation to head to Epsom and he has since enjoyed a mid-season break.

Potential returns to the Knavesmire for last month’s York Stakes and the Juddmonte International next week were considered, but the Night Of Thunder colt instead cross the Channel for a second Group Two assignment, and Haggas could not be happier with his condition.

“He’s fine and is on his way to Deauville as we speak,” the trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“We looked at the York Stakes at the end of July but he wasn’t ready for that, so it was either this or the Juddmonte and we preferred to have a go against the three-year-olds.

“He’s still relatively inexperienced. As promising as he might look, he’s still only run three races in his life, so we thought the Juddmonte might be quite a hard ask for a horse first time out for a while.

“He’s a pretty nice horse, I haven’t been looking very hard to see how good he is because that’s not the way we like to do it, but he does everything very easily, he’s pretty fit and I’m very much looking forward to getting him back on track – I can’t wait really.”

Economics was far too good for his rivals at York
Economics was far too good for his rivals at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Economics holds entries in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot, but Haggas is not looking beyond this week’s assignment.

He added: “I tend not to want to predict what might happen later on or where he might go, I want to get this first hurdle out of the way, but he’s in every smart race at a mile and a quarter that you can imagine and he’ll be aiming at one of those if he’s good enough.”

While Economics was brilliant in the Dante, he did return to the winner’s enclosure with blood in his nose, leaving some to question whether he had burst blood vessels.

Haggas, though, is putting the issue down to him banging his head on the starting stalls, saying: “We think that’s what happened, but we take no chances with him obviously.

“We had a few issues in the spring with that sort of thing, but he’s absolutely fine and we scope him every time he works and we haven’t seen a trace of blood, so that doesn’t concern us at the moment.

“What concerns me personally is how tight the ground might be for him (at Deauville). He’s a great big horse and it’s going to be quick ground, but he’s got to run so we’ll need to get on with it.

“He’s a beautiful looking horse and everything he has done so far has pleased us. He had a gallop at the racecourse at Newmarket about 10 days ago and he looked really good, so I’m really happy with him.”

Jayarebe made an excellent start to his three-year-old campaign by winning Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes, but was then beaten into third place as hot favourite for the Dee Stakes at Chester.

He got back on winning trail when repelling the late surge of King’s Gambit in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting, though, and trainer Brian Meehan is looking forward to his trip to France ahead of a likely tilt at Breeders’ Cup glory later in the year.

He said: “He’s great, really happy with him. He seems like he’s improved, he’s in tremendous form.

“Every race is a tough race, but I didn’t feel he had a particularly hard race (at Ascot). I considered the Eclipse, which was a couple of weeks later and it was only the (soft) ground that put us off running there.

“He’s taken a nice, gradual increase in class as he’s progressed and this was kind of a very obvious next step for him, staying in his own age group. The York Stakes was a consideration, he’d have been taken on a few older horses there, and this was always the most sensible route to take with him.

“The plan has always been to take him to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar. Depending on what happens on Thursday, where to take him in between is a bit of a dilemma, but saying that I’d be happy to not run him again until the Breeders’ Cup.

“He’s got a good travelling speed. The track at Del Mar is maybe not the ideal track for him, but he has got a good racing pace and he’s just really straightforward and a good galloper and I think extra two furlongs on that particular day would be ideal as well.”

Almaqam (left) on his way to victory at Sandown
Almaqam (left) on his way to victory at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

Economics and Jayarebe are two of seven runners declared for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, with Ed Walker’s Almaqam a third British raider.

The Lope De Vega colt readily accounted for the smart Kikkuli in Sandown’s Heron Stakes on his penultimate start, but having since been beaten into sixth in the St James’s Palace Stakes, he steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time.

The pick of the home team looks to be Bright Picture, who has won four of his five starts to date for Andre Fabre.

His only defeat came at the hands of Calandagan in the spring and he has since registered a clear-cut victory in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud.



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York and Deauville options for Eclipse absentee Jayarebe

Brian Meehan is eyeing a trip to either Deauville or York next month with Coral-Eclipse absentee Jayarebe.

The three-year-old son of Zoffany secured a Group Three success at Royal Ascot when holding off King’s Gambit to claim the Hampton Court Stakes.

He was set to try and give Meehan a second Eclipse victory by emulating David Junior’s heroics from 18 years ago, but connections cited unsuitable soft ground at Sandown as the reason he was pulled out of a clash with City Of Troy.

With a Feilden Stakes triumph also on his CV this season, Jayarebe is still expected to be aimed high on his next outing, with the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano or the Sky Bet York Stakes under consideration, both at Group Two level over 10 furlongs.

When asked at Deauville about possible upcoming engagements, Meehan told Sky Sports Racing: “The race here on the 15th of August, the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, or there’s also a race at York at the end of July.

“I’m not sure that soft ground would have inconvenienced him but we’ve been taking it nice and steady, race by race, with him, so I didn’t want to take the chance against City Of Troy.

“I’m sure the ground probably wouldn’t inconvenience him but we’ll wait for that later in the season.”



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Jayarebe holds off King’s Gambit for Hampton Court triumph

Jayarebe repelled the late thrust of hot favourite King’s Gambit to secure victory in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

So impressive when winning the London Gold Cup at Newbury last month, King’s Gambit was a 2-1 market leader to successfully graduate to Group Three level under William Buick, but a tardy start put him on the back foot from the off and he was still last of all rounding the home turn.

After taking a while to find top gear once in the clear, King’s Gambit was flying at the finish, but it was too little, too late and he had to make do with the runner-up spot.

Jayarebe (7-1), who dominated his rivals in Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes before being beaten as a warm order for the Dee Stakes at Chester, was always handily positioned by Sean Levey and dug deep after hitting the front early in the straight to hold off King’s Gambit by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Brian Meehan was landing his second winner of the week following the shock 80-1 victory of Rashabar in Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes, with Levey also doubling his tally following Rosallion’s St James’s Palace Stakes triumph on the same afternoon.

“He’s been doing all the right things at home. Chester didn’t suit him, he’s got a huge stride, I think it’s something like 26ft, which is a massive stride for a horse like this,” said the jockey.

“We know he stays, I got a great break from stall 12 and I committed early because I knew he’d stay strong to the line.

“Do you know what, it’s having the horses that have a chance of winning. They are so hard to find here, it’s so competitive.

“So far, so good; two big chances have won and there are still chances to come, so fingers crossed.”

Meehan said: “He was sitting third and Sean was able to get a breather in and that was key, it never happened at Chester and that was his undoing, along with the track, he didn’t like the track.

Royal Ascot 2024 – Day Three – Ascot Racecourse
Sean Levey aboard Jayarebe after winning the Hampton Court Stakes (John Walton/PA).

“Today, Sean had to be forceful to get the position, but once he did, Sean was able to take back, have a little breather and that man is riding out of his skin at the moment, it is so impressive.

“He knows the horse inside out and comes in every week and rides work. It was the same as Rosallion earlier in the week, it was a wonderful ride.”

He added of Jayarebe: “He’s getting better and is still lightly raced. With practice, he is improving and the red hood was a good addition today. It’s more about curbing his exuberance, but when we were saddling, he was calm and we’re going in the right direction.

“What more does he have to do and at this stage he is on the up. This was always the plan – it was Newmarket, Chester, then here. I always said to his owner that we would then explore an autumn campaign and then look at some of the international races for him.

“The Eclipse is a possibility as well, but we will see how he is and I’ll talk to Sean.”

On King’s Gambit, Harry Charlton said: “It looked like a disaster from furlong one – we were in the worst possible position on this round course, and he’s run monstrously well to get anywhere near them.

“You can see how good he is, and we’ll enjoy him down the line.”



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Jayarebe has Royal Ascot aspirations after Dee Stakes tilt

Jayarebe looks to tee himself up for an appearance at Royal Ascot with another good run in the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes at Chester on Thursday.

A winner on his July Course debut last summer, Brian Meehan’s charge went on to run with credit when seventh behind Rosallion in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp.

The Zoffany colt made his three-year-old debut in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket’s Craven meeting and following an impressive victory, he heads to the Roodee in a bid for back-to-back triumphs at Listed level.

“I’m very happy with him, he’s in great shape and this is a very natural next step for him timing-wise, so it makes sense,” said Meehan.

“He looks like he’s come on for the run at Newmarket and improved. It’s only his third run, so we’re expecting more from him really.”

While the Dee Stakes is considered a legitimate trial for the Derby, Jayarebe is not entered at Epsom, with his trainer keen to stick to a mile and a quarter for the time being.

Brian Meehan at Newmarket
Brian Meehan at Newmarket (Bradley Collyer/PA)

A tilt at the French Derby was mooted in the immediate aftermath of his Feilden win, but Meehan has now decided against an attempt at Classic glory across the Channel.

He added: “I think for the moment we wouldn’t be in a hurry to venture any further, maybe until the end of the summer.

“It (French Derby) was a thought at the time, but I talked to the owner and from the Dee we’ll go to the Hampton Court (at Royal Ascot). He’s in the Eclipse as well, so that’s a possible, one or the other I’d say, rather than both.”

Richard Hughes also has Royal Ascot aspirations for Bracken’s Laugh, who reverts to the turf after landing the £100,000 Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes on the all-weather at Chelmsford.

The three-year-old ventured to France to finish fifth behind Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in the autumn and Hughes is excited to see how far he can go this term.

He said: “We’re happy with him, so he’ll go and do his best and we’ll see how we get on.

“We’ve had no hiccups since Chelmsford and we’ve been happy with his prep. It would be nice to win a Listed and then go Group Three at Ascot, but we’ll see.

“We could be taking on a Derby horse in God’s Window, but there’s only one way of finding out.”

The likely favourite is the John and Thady Gosden-trained God’s Window, third in last season’s Futurity Trophy at Doncaster and a facile winner of a three-runner novice event at Nottingham three weeks ago.

God’s Window (light blue) winning on his Doncaster debut
God’s Window (light blue) winning on his Doncaster debut (Tim Goode/PA)

“He ran a good race to be third after slightly missing the break at Doncaster in the Futurity last year and then he won in very uncomplicated fashion on his return at Nottingham,” said Thady Gosden.

“He has taken a good step forward for that and he’s back into stakes company now. Of course, it’s a hot race, but he goes there in good order.”

God’s Window is one of three runners who hold a Derby entry, along with O’Brien’s Capulet and the Ed Walker-trained Harper’s Ferry.

After twice finishing second, the latter made it third time lucky at Windsor in mid-April and Walker expects to have a clearer idea about his potential ambitions after this.

He said: “He sort of won with his ears pricked last time. He’s a horse who hasn’t done a lot wrong and we were given a very tempting mark (88) to have a go at a handicap.

“But we’d spent a lot of money on some nice entries and he’s bred to be a Derby horse, whether that’s French or English, we don’t know, but that’s what he was bred for, so we will persevere down that route until we are proven otherwise and we’ll see where we are on Thursday.

“Hopefully the ground doesn’t become quick, but I think it should be fine. It was surprisingly good ground at Windsor and he was comfortable on that.

“I don’t think it’s a given he stays 12 furlongs. He’s a horse with a high cruising speed. He’s not slow, I know Derby horses aren’t slow, but it would be a step into the unknown.

“If we’re lucky enough to win on Thursday, it would not be a straightforward decision which Derby to aim at.”

Capulet completes the field, having finished third behind Bracken’s Laugh at Chelmsford when an odds-on favourite.

The son of Justify was twice placed at Group Two level as a juvenile, chasing home stablemate Diego Velazquez in the Golden Fleece at Leopardstown before finishing third behind Ghostwriter in Newmarket’s Royal Lodge.

His rider Ryan Moore told Betfair: “My colt probably didn’t run up to his best on his return behind Bracken’s Laugh at Chelmsford, but hopefully he will have sharpened up for that run, this 10-furlong trip will suit, and he can return to his two-year-old form.”



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Jayarebe powers clear for emphatic Feilden triumph

Jayarebe ran out a most impressive winner of the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket for Brian Meehan and Sean Levey.

Only seen twice last season, he won on his debut on the July course and was then stepped markedly up in class for the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.

Only seventh behind Richard Hannon’s Rosallion there, he took a major leap forward on this occasion.

Never far from the firing line, Levey kicked for home heading into the dip and having hit the front, he soon put daylight between himself and his rivals.

Aidan O’Brien’s Gasper De Lemos briefly looked a threat before fading, while Andre Fabre’s Narkez never looked like playing a part in the finish.

It was the Richard Hughes-trained Whip Cracker who chased home the 11-1 winner, another who was close to the pace throughout, but he was beaten three and a quarter lengths.

“In three runs, he’s won here at Newmarket twice, once on the July Course and now the Rowley Mile – he’s a lovely horse,” said Meehan.

“He’s seen that out really well and pedigree-wise you would imagine a mile and a quarter would be the limit of his stamina, but he looked very good there.

“I liked the way he did it today, especially the way he came up the hill. He was always impressive last year and he has been doing well throughout the spring.

“He’s a lovely horse and I think if he would have been over a mile in the Lagardere, he would have probably run a bit better, but the form is really good.

bet365 Craven Meeting – Day Two – Newmarket Racecourse
Connections of Jayarebe celebrate his success (Bradley Collyer/PA).

“He was only six lengths behind Rosallion and that was seven furlongs, whereas today was a mile and one and, as always, there is natural improvement over the winter with these two to three-year-olds. The bare form is pretty good for a Listed race.

“The owner is away and back next week, so I’ll go and meet him and see what we’re going to do. He’s possibly a French Derby type, but he’s also a horse that might benefit for a bit more of a subtle touch for a while.

“The mile and a quarter race at Ascot would be a race to consider and there is a whole summer ahead of us and there’s plenty of time.”



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