Ebro River Likely For Middle Park Instead of Morny

Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) is likely for the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 25 provided that fellow Al Shaqab Racing runner and G3 Molecomb S. winner Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) runs in the Aug. 22 G1 Prix Morny according to trainer Hugo Palmer.

“He's come back [from Ireland] great, you wouldn't know he'd had a run to be honest,” said the Newmarket handler of Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. hero. “I think Al Shaqab are very keen to run Armor in the Prix Morny. I think that's been his plan since Goodwood.

“I've said that we'll leave Ebro River in the Morny, in case for whatever reason Armor didn't or couldn't run. On the assumption Armor does go there, I would have thought the Middle Park will be Ebro River's next target.

“He's had seven races by Aug. 8, so he's allowed a little bit of time.”

A winner of a Sandown listed in May on his third start, the chestnut ran just out of the frame in a trio of group races earlier this summer. Fifth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot in June, he went one better in the G2 Tattersalls July S. at Newmarket last month. Prior to his first Group 1 victory, the colt ran fourth again, this time in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. on July 29.

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First Group 1 For Galileo Gold As Ebro River Best In The Phoenix

On the premises but off the board in a trio of group 2s in his native Britain, Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) benefitted from a change in tactics to make virtually all in Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. In front before racing a furlong, the Hugo Palmer-trained 12-1 shot had the stand's rail to help and gave generously for Shane Foley as TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) joined battle approaching the furlong pole. As that rival and the G2 Railway S. first and second Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made it four across the track there, it was the British raider who gave most to see off Dr Zempf by 3/4 of a length with the 6-4 favourite Go Bears Go a head behind in third. Foley, who was in Saratoga on Saturday and returned to home soil in the morning, said, “Hugo fancied the horse. He's tough and genuine and I just said I wouldn't mind changing tactics, as they had been dropping him in. It looked like there wasn't much pace today and with that tailwind it's hard to get them back.”

Impressive when the 3 1/4-length winner of the Listed National S. over five furlongs at Sandown May 27, Ebro River was a creditable fifth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 15 before finishing fourth in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 8. Again in that position in a slowly-run renewal of the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood July 29, the chestnut enjoyed being allowed to bowl along and as his sire had done in the 2016 G1 2000 Guineas got the rail and refused to relinquish. “He jumped and probably travelled too strongly if anything–we went end-to-end but I had a willing partner,” Foley said. “He had a good run in the Coventry, but had been keen and awkward and doing things wrong. It was an ideal day to make it, as we had the draw and it's all come together. I thought he'd be vulnerable, as he'd travelled so strong in my hands for the first three and I thought they might swallow him but he dug in and I was comfortable in the last 100 yards. I think he's a horse with a lot of talent and the softer the ground the better you'll see of him. He felt like he would get seven furlongs no problem if he learns to relax. He was a lot better today and I felt that even if they went another half a furlong he'd still be in front.”

Ebro River has a chance of emulating the last two years' Phoenix winners Siskin (First Defence) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in getting a mile next year, but his dam Soft Power (Ire) (Balmont) has mainly sprinters in her immediate family. She is kin to Key Rose (Ire) (Key of Luck), who was third in the Listed Flame of Tara S. in its former guise as a six-furlong contest and is a full-sister to the dam of the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 July Cup hero Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}). This is the dynasty of the GI King's Bishop S. hero The Big Beast (Yes It's True) and the GI Hollywood Derby hero Slew the Dragon (Seattle Slew). Soft Power's yearling filly is by Mehmas (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Inns of Court (Ire).

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First Black-Type Winner For Galileo Gold As Ebro River Strikes

Coming off a five-furlong Doncaster novice win May 15, Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) gave his first-season sire Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) a first black-type success with an impressive display in Thursday's Listed National S. at Sandown. Missing the break as he had done on his first two starts, the Hugo Palmer-trained chestnut who was one of his sire's more expensive yearlings when selling for 75,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 quickly recovered to track the pace against the rail. In front approaching the furlong pole, the 4-1 shot veered left across the track soon after but was firmly in command and after being straightened registered a 3 1/4-length success from the positively-ridden Little Earl (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}). “It was a little bit messy, but he's super-talented,” jockey James Doyle said. “He is tricky, there's no getting away from that, as he does have that trademark of just running around a bit when he gets there. He's got a good turn of foot and he can put himself in front quite quickly. I don't think six will be a problem.”

Trainer Hugo Palmer said, “He's looked very smart from the first day he came in. He's obviously still a bit babyish and has a few crinkles to iron out–how we do that, I'm not sure. I'm not sure which race at [Royal] Ascot yet, he wouldn't be able to give away four lengths in the Norfolk like he did tonight. He'll be fine on any ground and it isn't a surprise he's so precocious–Galileo Gold would have won at two in April if he had an owner, but I still had him. This horse will get a mile in time, but we'll gradually step him up as the season progresses. He's got some growing up to do.”

The dam, whose yearling filly is by Mehmas (Ire) and who also has a filly foal by Inns of Court (Ire), is a half to the Listed Flame of Tara S. third Key Rose (Ire) (Key of Luck) and to the dam of the G1 Diamond Jubilee S., G1 July Cup and G2 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S.-winning sire Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Thursday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL 'BEATEN BY A LENGTH' NATIONAL S.-Listed, £25,500, Sandown, 5-27, 2yo, 5f 10yT, 1:05.24, sf.
1–EBRO RIVER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Galileo Gold (GB)
1st Dam: Soft Power (Ire), by Balmont
2nd Dam: Rumuz (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
3rd Dam: Balqis, by Advocator
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (75,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer; J-James Doyle. £14,461. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $25,673.
2–Little Earl (Ire), 129, c, 2, Havana Gold (Ire)–Majestic Alexander (Ire), by Bushranger (Ire). (£115,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Mount Armstrong Stud (IRE); T-Robert Cowell. £5,483.
3–Navello (GB), 129, c, 2, Ivawood (Ire)–Caprella (GB), by Kheleyf. O-Ms Fiona Carmichael & Mrs Evelyn Yates; B-Mrs Evelyn Yates & Westward Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-George Boughey. £2,744.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 4.00, 18.00, 2.00.
Also Ran: Fabiosa (GB), Bond Chairman (GB), Chipotle (GB), Hotline Bling (Ire). Scratched: Choux (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result.

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