Irish Champion Or Champion S. Possible For Adayar After Prep Run

Godolphin's 2021 G1 Derby and G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is progressing in his training, with the Sept. 10 G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown or the Oct. 15 G1 Champion S. at Ascot under consideration by trainer Charlie Appleby. However, the trainer would like to get a prep run into the bay, who has yet to make a 2022 start after missing several targets earlier this year.

“He's in full training and has the spring back in his step,” said Appleby. “I'm not going to set him a target, but let him tell me when he's ready. The great thing is, it's the Adayar we've seen before that we're seeing at home now.

“In an ideal world I would like to get a prep into him before either the Irish Champion S. or the Champion S. But most importantly the excitement is back in the camp over this horse like it was earlier in the year.”

After his Ascot exploits last July, Adayar was fourth in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and fifth returned to Ascot for his sophomore swansong in the G1 QIPCO Champion S.

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Westover To Have ‘A Good Rest’ Before Coming Back In The Autumn

Classic hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the end of June, will be freshened after his unplaced run in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. on Saturday. A winner of the G3 bet365 Classic Trial in his seasonal debut in April, the Juddmonte colourbearer ran third in the G1 Cazoo Derby for trainer Ralph Beckett. The bay set a contested pace in the King George.

“I think it just wasn't our day,” said Barry Mahon, general manager for Juddmonte. “As we had said prior to the race, we were a little nervous coming into it on the back of being to Epsom and the Curragh and it was a tight enough timescale with such a horse.

“He got a bit warm in the prelims and a little excited and then in the parade ring he got in behind Emily Upjohn (GB (Sea The Stars {Ire}), which wasn't ideal.

“Then the race just didn't pan out in our favour. There wasn't a lot of pace and Westover was a little bit keen so we got left in front. It just wasn't ideal and wasn't our day.

“He'll have a good rest now, I spoke to Ralph this morning and the horse has come out of it fine. He has a couple of little overreaches on his hind leg where maybe in the first furlong or two when he crossed over to the rail something caught him from behind, but all just superficial.”

A G1 St Leger bid at Doncaster is under consideration, as well as possible appearances in the G2 Prix Niel and G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe, but connections will take a patient approach.

“That's [the St Leger is] definitely on the agenda,” Mahon continued. “And also all the other middle-distance races such as the Prix Niel and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and whatever else, but the horse is going to tell us where and when.

“We'll give him a good rest now and freshen him up for the autumn. We probably won't even talk about a race for probably a month until we've seen how he is and then we'll start working towards something at that stage.

“He's trained great all season and one of his biggest attributes has been his calm, relaxed nature and we saw on Saturday that we'd probably just pushed him far enough and he was beginning to get warm beforehand, he just needs a rest now and we'll regroup for the autumn.”

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Grosser Preis von Baden Next For ‘Tasso’ Before An Arc Defence

Last year's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victor Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), who ran a brave second in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S., returned to trainer Marcel Weiss's Mulheim base on Sunday afternoon. His trainer is targeting the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden on Sept. 4 for the chestnut, who will then return to ParisLongchamp to try for consecutive Arc victories on Oct. 2.

“He was very well and had no problems with the journey,” said part-owner Peter-Michael Endres. “It was no problem for him.

“Our thought now is to bring him to Baden-Baden for his next race [in September] and then to the Arc.

“It will be a similar route to last year. The only change was that he went to Ascot and that was the right decision.”

The 5-year-old entire opened his season with a surprising sixth in the G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft, but quickly bounced back to form with a 3 1/2-length score in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis at Hamberg on July 2.

Endres added, “I think he can go on this [quicker] ground–as we have seen. On softer ground, some of the other horses are not as good on it as he is.”

“The hospitality at Ascot was marvellous. It was a very good journey. We like to win, but to gain second place and also how he has done it, we are very happy about that.”

“When he won the Arc, people thought the horses he beat were not as good as they thought before,” added Endres. “Now you think nearly the best 3-year-olds had problems against older horses–and he is one of the best. So, we are looking forward to going back to the Arc.”

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Pyledriver Heads To The Arc Prior To Targets Farther Afield

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has emerged from his G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. victory in good order and will point towards the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2, according to co-trainer William Muir. After running second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December, the bay did not make an impact in Riyadh, and was an unlucky fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March. Wheeled back attempting a title defence of his G1 Coronation Cup crown, he finished second in June. Longer-term targets include the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf in November, as well as the Nov. 27 G1 Japan Cup or another visit to Hong Kong for the Longines Hong Kong International Races.

“The Breeders' Cup [Turf] is after the Arc, so basically the Arc is next on the agenda and once you've won that race, you have a free entry to the Japan Cup, same as the Breeders' Cup, same as Hong Kong,” said Muir. “We can't do them all. It is impossible to do everything.”

A firm decision on where the 5-year-old entire goes after France will be made by Muir, his co-trainer Chris Grassick, injured regular jockey Martin Dwyer, and Pyledriver's owners.

Muir said, “The three owners and me, and definitely Martin–even though he is not riding, he is a big part of this horse's journey–will decide where we go after the Arc. The Breeders' Cup is possible. We will have a meeting and discuss which way we go, but the Arc is next.”

Ridden by PJ McDonald on Saturday, Pyledriver pleased Muir on Sunday morning.

Muir added, “He is grand, really good this morning. He has come out of the race well, he is very happy. I was out with him about 5 a.m. this morning and he is fine.”

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