Lord North Treads A Familiar Path

It is the G3 Winter Derby, so it must be time for the return from hibernation of the Clarehaven stalwart and late-winter specialist Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gearing up for his attempt at a fourth consecutive G1 Dubai Turf, the 8-year-old will be reunited with Robert Havlin who has partnered him in the last two editions of this prize formerly staged over 10 furlongs at Lingfield. Now at Southwell with an extra furlong added on, it will represent a different test for the high-class veteran whose probable limit is a mile and a quarter.

“We think he is where he was this time last year before the Winter Derby–working slightly better than the year before, when he was second to Alenquer,” Havlin said. “Lord North is an eight-year-old now and takes a bit of getting fit, but he seems to be bright in himself. From a fitness perspective, he will improve as he always needs this first run to get all the lights switched on, but he is the class act and we are expecting a big run.”

“He is quite an uncomplicated horse, as he relaxes into a race and it is up to you when to press the button. His optimum trip is probably nine furlongs given his record in the Dubai Turf, but he has run well over a mile and a half at the Breeders' Cup.”

While Godolphin's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) failed to go on after that promising performance last May, the now-gelded full-brother to Adayar (Ire) showed form strong enough to be a major player here when second in the course-and-distance Winter Derby Trial Conditions S. in January. Possibly more attuned to the greater stamina test than Lord North, he represents a worthy rival alongside Prince Faisal's long-absent Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) who is seen for the first time since finishing fourth in the 2022 G1 2000 Guineas.

“Military Order has definitely come forward since his last start,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He ticks a couple of boxes in that he has run well already this year over the track and trip. He should be a big player based on the pick of his three-year-old form and what he achieved in the trial.”

Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince Faisal, said of Eydon, “Andrew [Balding] has been pleased with him and was pleased with his gallop at Kempton. It's a pretty even field and they are all rated around the same figures apart from Lord North and we will see.”

The post Lord North Treads A Familiar Path appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Setback Knocks Eydon Out Of G1 Cazoo Derby

Prince Faisal's Listed Feilden S. hero Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) has suffered a 'minor setback' and will miss the G1 Cazoo Derby, trainer Roger Varian confirmed on Twitter. The colt was last seen running fourth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Apr. 30.

“Sadly, Eydon will miss the Derby at Epsom,” Varian tweeted. “He has met with a minor setback which will keep him from running on Saturday.

“While it is of course hugely frustrating to miss a Classic opportunity, we will look forward to the rest of the season with Eydon and he remains a very exciting prospect for his owner, Prince A A Faisal.”

The post Setback Knocks Eydon Out Of G1 Cazoo Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Epsom Gallops Morning For Eydon

Listed winner Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) will go to Epsom to test his aptitude for the course during the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning on May 23, Prince Faisal's racing manager Ted Voute revealed. Depending on his results, that will see the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas fourth take his chances in the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4. Alternatively, he will be re-routed to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in France one day later.

Voute said, “He'll go on Monday to Epsom and have a little piece of work down the hill and around the turn and into the straight.

“We'll see how he handles the bend and the camber and then the Prince will have a think about what he wants to do after seeing how balanced he is.”

Voute also had an update on Prince Faisal's globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), and he is targeting the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot. Successful in the G1 Juddmonte International S. in August of 2021, the 2020 Prix du Jockey Club hero was fourth in the G1 QIPCO British Champion S. in the autumn. Defending his Saudi Cup title, the 5-year-old entire faded to last of 14 in Riyadh on Feb. 26.

“I said to the Prince the other day that he'd already won the French Derby and he said 'oh well, I don't mind winning it twice,'” Voute added. “Ascot is where we're heading [with Mishriff]. We're just waiting to see whether we'll be ready for then, but it's pretty much the same agenda as last year and we'll just take it one race at a time.

“I'm not sure I really want to take on Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), but if we're going to be a champion then we've got to.”

Also heading to the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning on Monday are Eydon's fellow Derby contenders Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) as well as Oaks entrant Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

The post Epsom Gallops Morning For Eydon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Eydon Camp Mulls 2000 Guineas Option

The Listed bet365 Feilden S. hero Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}), emerged from his win in good order and is still under consideration for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, owner Prince Faisal's racing advisor Ted Voute revealed on Wednesday. Although the Roger Varian trainee has been left in the entries for that Newmarket Classic, his long-term target remains the G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom on June 4.

“I went to see him on Monday and he looked magnificent, so I relayed that information to the Prince, who is still in Saudi Arabia and after discussions with Roger as well, we have left him in the Guineas for the time being to keep all the options open,” said Voute.

“The Prince has said the best trial for the Derby is the Guineas, so that is definitely on our mind, but it's just the timing from the Feilden to the Guineas is the shortest of all the options we have, so that's really why we're sitting and deliberating.

“Going down to Newmarket myself and having a look at him was one of the pieces of the puzzle, which I fed back into the system and as a result we've left him in. Sometimes you're forced to make decisions before you want to make them, but by leaving him in the race it buys us a week.”

He added: “Obviously, we've got the likes of Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and some very good horses to face up to, but you don't become the best unless you race against them and the Prince has never been shy, he likes to race them at the top table if they are good enough.

“He's 25-1 for the Guineas and I wonder if he was by Frankel (GB) out of an Olden Times mare he would be shorter in the betting, but he's by Olden Times out of a Frankel mare so he's 25s.

“He won the Feilden very nicely and he could be anything, but we've not ruled anything out and he was put in the [G2] Dante [S.] and all the right races in both England and France.”

The post Eydon Camp Mulls 2000 Guineas Option appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights