Tag Archive for: Okeechobee

Revised targets on hold for Okeechobee

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Future plans for Okeechobee are on hold after a late setback ruled him out of an intended trip to Ireland for the Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday.

Winner of the Gordon Richards Stakes last month, the Harry Charlton-trained five-year-old had the option of returning to the Esher track for the Brigadier Gerard on Thursday.

Connections instead opted to supplement the son of Time Test for his first Group One assignment, but he was ultimately unable to line up at the Curragh.

“He had a bruised heel and a foot infection, which was annoying, but unfortunately that’s the way it goes,” said Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte.

“It’s nothing too major, hopefully. He’ll have an easy week or 10 days and hopefully he should be back on the go.”

Okeechobee is entered in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Mahon added: “We’ll wait and see and make sure everything is all right before we start making any plans, but options are probably limited. You’re heading to Ascot time of the year, so if he’s fit and well, we’ll look at something there – and if not, we’ll wait a bit longer.”



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Okeechobee set to clash with Auguste Rodin at the Curragh

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Okeechobee has emerged as a rival to Auguste Rodin at the Curragh on Sunday after being supplemented for the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

A narrow winner of the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month, Okeechobee had the option of returning to the Esher venue for the Brigadier Gerard on Thursday evening.

However, owners Juddmonte have instead decided to stump up the required €50,000 to add the Harry Charlton-trained colt to this weekend’s Group One contest.

“He’s been supplemented for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, so the plan is for him to run in Ireland,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s a lightly-raced horse who has won his Group Three and rather than go back to Sandown to a carry a penalty we thought we’d give him a crack at Group One and see just where his limitations lie.

“We’ll find out a bit more about him on Sunday.”

Okeechobee’s addition leaves a total of 11 contenders for the 10-furlong contest, with last season’s dual Derby winner and Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup her Auguste Rodin one of three potential runners for Aidan O’Brien along with last year’s winner Luxembourg and Hans Anderson.

Auguste Rodin (left) winning last season's Irish Champion Stakes
Auguste Rodin (left) winning last season’s Irish Champion Stakes (Damien Eagers/PA)

The Ballydoyle handler on Tuesday reaffirmed his intention to saddle Auguste Rodin, but that could change if conditions deteriorate significantly.

He said: “That (running Auguste Rodin) is the plan, hopefully they won’t get too much rain.

“That (Coronation Cup at Epsom) is the plan for Luxembourg, he was just left in for Sunday in case the ground came too soft for Auguste or something like that.”

Adrian Murray has confirmed Crypto Force and Elegant Man, while John Joseph Murphy looks set to saddle his stable star White Birch, who has made an excellent start to his four-year-old campaign by winning both the Alleged Stakes and the Mooresbridge Stakes over the course and distance this spring.

Joseph O’Brien’s pair of Goldana and Lumiere Rock and Mashhoor from Johnny Murtagh’s yard complete the potential field.



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Okeechobee fends off Desert Hero for Gordon Richards win

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Okeechobee just held off the late thrust of the King and Queen’s Desert Hero to win the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.

Unraced at two, he showed smart form at three when trained by Roger and Harry Charlton, but with Harry now striking out on his own, this Group Three represented the biggest win in the career of the young handler so far.

Second on his return from a long lay-off at Kempton, the now five-year-old was sent off a 100-30 chance under Ryan Moore, who had already teamed up with Charlton to win the Esher Cup on Hand Of God.

He looked to have plenty to do with two furlongs to run, as Jim Crowley cruised to the front on Israr, who was putting behind him a very disappointing run in Qatar last time out.

Okeechobee quickened past Desert Hero, third in the St Leger when last seen and running over a trip half a mile less, and he initially looked like winning quite comfortably when claiming Israr.

But Tom Marquand really got William Haggas’ Desert Hero rolling and he laid down a strong challenge, only for the line to come two strides too soon, going down by a head with a further three-quarters of a length back to Israr.

“I thought he would go very close beforehand, but watching it was less enjoyable,” said Charlton.

“Turning in, Ryan said they really kicked off the front, which we thought might happen, as it was a field full of stamina horses. He had quite a lot of ground to make up and Ryan was impressed with him from the three to the two to the one.

“He just got there and like they sometimes do, he just leaned in. Al Kazeem used to do it; think he was going to win then start hanging into the rail. But it was impressive.

“He obviously ran a lovely race at Kempton the other day and was entitled to come on for that. He came here 10kg fitter and I think he can probably tighten again, he’s a big, round, rotund horse. That’s only his sixth race and there’s scope for more hopefully.

“Dare I say it, we might have to look at something like the Prix d’Ispahan or the Tattersalls Gold Cup next, it will be one of those two I suspect.”

bet365 Spring Celebration – Sandown Park Racecourse – Friday 26th April
Harry Charlton at Sandown (John Walton/PA).

Haggas will not be too despondent with Desert Hero, as he was on his way out to Hong Kong to watch Dubai Honour, the horse who beat Okeechobee on his comeback at Kempton.

Marquand said of the runner-up: “It was the perfect comeback run for him. I would have loved him to get his head in front but he’s been beaten by a good horse and it was a good reintroduction to racing for him.

“Everything went to plan and he pulled up well and no doubt we will be back up to a mile and a half next and having some more fun with him.”

Maureen Haggas said: “The ground would be too soft for him and the trip would be too short for him. They went a good clip and two from home he was on the back foot a little bit, but he stayed on very well and it’s a nice start.

“He’s come back from a mile and six to a mile and a quarter, so it’s a bit different, but he needed to get going and it will probably be one more run before the Hardwicke.

“For me, he is still not there in his coat and he could change a bit between now and Ascot. These horses at the moment are having a lot to contend with, it’s freezing cold and the trees are coming out and there’s pollen everywhere.

“It’s hard for them and it’s nearly May – and I know it’s the same for them all, but they all have a lot to contend with.

“He took until Ascot to come to himself last year, but he’s getting there earlier this year, so I’m really happy with that and he was good here today.”



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