Tag Archive for: Stanhope Gardens

Beckett can see merit in coming back in trip with Stanhope Gardens

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Ralph Beckett is tempted to drop Stanhope Gardens back down in trip after finishing a creditable fifth in the Betfred Derby.

The Kimpton Down trainer feels the lightly-raced Ghaiyyath colt just ran out of stamina close home, having made up plenty of ground after the descent from Tattenham Corner.

Beckett said: “Dropping him in trip would be the obvious thing, but what muddies the water is that he had such a bad prep.

“I don’t want to make excuses, he ran his race, but he was off the last week of April, the first week of May and then we had another problem the week before the Derby as well so he only just made it.

“From that draw (15), sectionals say he ran a fast three-to-two and two-to-one so all of that is really encouraging.

“The obvious thing is to run him over 10 furlongs because if he doesn’t get home over 12 next time then I’m in a hole. Although he’s by Ghaiyyath the mare (Pure Art), whatever they breed her to they never get more than 10 furlongs, so I think that is where we’ll end up – but it is to be debated.

“There’s the Eugene-Adam at Saint-Cloud against three-year-olds, but we’ll see where we are in a couple of weeks.”

Beckett also fielded Dante winner Pride Of Arras, who went off second-favourite but only beat one home.

“He was very disappointing. He was a little bit keen up the hill and came down the hill like an ostrich on ice,” Beckett told Racing TV.

“He’s come out of it well and we’ll go again. I’d be keen to go to the Irish Derby, as I think that will suit him.”

Last year’s Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me, bought by Amo Racing for 4,800,000 guineas, was another disappointment in the Coronation Cup and her future appears to be on temporary hold.

“I’m not sure about her, the way she’s come out of the race, which is well, I’m not sure about anything with her at the moment, I’ll have to do a bit more digging,” said Beckett.

Green Impact gunning for Irish Derby following Glencairn glory

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All roads lead to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for Green Impact following his victory at Leopardstown last week.

Jessica Harrington’s son of sire-of-the-moment Wootton Bassett returned to winning ways in the Glencairn Stakes having finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas.

He made all the running that day but with Epsom hero Lambourn more than likely to adopt those tactics at the Curragh, Green Impact’s connections are more than happy to take a lead.

“After Thursday we were just hoping there would be some pace in the Irish Derby but now it looks like he is going to have a lead,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to owner Marc Chan.

“Green Impact will improve for that race. Had he been 100 per cent then he would have been in the French Derby four days before.

“He just hadn’t had the ideal preparation since Newmarket to go and run in France, I’d say he was around 85 per cent ready.

“It looks a good Guineas this year and Green Impact lost a shoe and didn’t handle the dip.

“We’d liked to have gone to France but it was smart not to go as he’d had a problem with a muscle.

“He was only getting 5lb instead of 10lb off the older horses so that was a fair effort I thought.”

Chan also part-owns the Ralph Beckett-trained Stanhope Gardens, who finished fifth at Epsom, but no decision has been taken as yet on his next target.

“I think it was a good run. It’s too soon to say where he might go next,” said McCalmont.

“We’ll discuss it in a week or so. Wherever he does go next he can only improve given his preparation.”

Chan’s stalwart Kinross proved the fire still burns bright when narrowly beaten on his return to action at Haydock.

“We knew he’d come to hand a lot earlier this year,” said McCalmont.

“At the end of last year we were wondering if was still what he was but if you give him time between his races he definitely is. When he’s fresh he’s a very good horse.

“The three-year-olds this year look very good so I’d say the July Cup this year might be a long shot so the races at Goodwood (Lennox) and York (City of York) are more than likely where he’ll turn up, ground permitting.”