G1 Middle Park S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Autumn Group 1 Targets For Ebro River

Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), who won the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh in August, is likely to step out in the G1 Middle Park S. over six furlongs at Newmarket on Sept. 25. Third in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. behind Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) on Sunday, the colt is also possible for the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 3 or the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November.

“I think it's fair to say Ebro River is not as good over seven furlongs as he is over six, and we're certainly not looking to step him up to a mile next year–we don't see him as a Guineas horse,” said trainer Hugo Palmer. “There is a well-documented and straightforward path to the Commonwealth Cup, which has been designed for horses like him.

“He doesn't need soft ground by any means, but what he doesn't want is firm ground. The Middle Park is the most obvious option for him. The alternative is the Jean-Luc Lagardere [at ParisLongchamp], and we're very keen on taking him to the Breeders' Cup to run in the Juvenile Turf over a mile.

“I think a very sharp mile round Del Mar, round two turns, will suit a horse who is already Group 1-placed over the stiffest seven furlongs in Europe.”

Kept plenty busy since a sixth-place debut at Newmarket in April, the colt was making his eighth start of the year in the National S. He'd also claimed a Sandown listed at the end of May.

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Middle Park Remains Target For Ebro River

The Sept. 25 G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket remains the main goal for Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Hugo Palmer confirmed on Friday. Racing in the Al Shaqab silks, the colt will bid to add to his Group 1 haul after taking the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 8.

Said Palmer, who trained Ebro River's sire Galileo Gold to wins in the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S., “I've left him in the [Sept. 18 G2] Mill Reef [at Newbury] just in case it looks like being soft there and it looks like being firm ground at Newmarket, but I'm not sure many have carried a Group 1 penalty in that race.

“He is very unlikely to go to the [G1] National S. [at The Curragh on Sept. 12] and the [G1 Prix] Jean Luc Lagardere [at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 3] is a possibility, but I think six furlongs is his trip. The Middle Park is the main aim and that is where we want to go but we have kept the other options just in case.”

Successful at second asking at Doncaster in May, Ebro River added the Listed National S. at Sandown on May 27. Only fifth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot, the chestnut reported home fourth in the G2 Tattersalls July S. and July 29 G2 Unibet Richmond S. prior to his top-level score.

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Go Bears Go to Skip Morny and Wait For Middle Park

Group 2 winner Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) will not step out in the Aug. 22 G1 Prix Morny, but will instead wait for the Sept. 25 G1 Middle Park S. trainer David Loughnane revealed. A winner first out at Ascot in May, the colt ran second in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot and captured the G2 Railway S. at The Curragh on June 26. His latest start was a third-place run in the wake of Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. on Aug. 8.

“He's not going to France,” Loughnane said. “We're going to give him a bit of a freshen up and target the Middle Park. He's ready for a bit of a freshen up. He's only run four times, but he's on the go a while.

“We'll give him a bit of time now and get him ready for Newmarket.”

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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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