Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) extended his winning streak to four to land Chelmsford City's Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions S. under talented young apprentice Harry Davies.
While the Godolphin colt earned 30 points in this final leg of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, his trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed to TDN that Bold Act will not be aimed at the American Classic on May 6, heading instead towards a Derby trial at home.
“We're delighted he's won but in all honesty he's not a horse we've had on the radar for the Kentucky Derby,” he said. “It's a great race, and for the points initiative, it's fantastic, but for ourselves it wasn't something we were looking at moving on to.
Appleby added, “He's a nice horse and we'll look to step him up in trip and look at the Feilden or the Dante for him. Full marks to Chelmsford for being able to produce a race like that to provide a springboard to go on to the Kentucky Derby.”
Kentucky could still be on the cards for runner-up Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation), however. The Archie Watson-trained gelding already had 20 qualifying points to his name following his win in the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' Conditions S. at Kempton last month and he is now on 32, having been beaten just half a length by Bold Act
Tom Palin of the Middleham Park Racing syndicate which owns the five-time winner confirmed after the race, “We are strongly considering the Kentucky Derby.”
He continued, “He's a dude of a horse and he ran his heart out once again. I think if he'd had a dream passage up the inside he'd probably have got the job done again tonight. We'll have a good chat on Monday with the team. It's their decision if they want to spend the prize-money to go across [to America], but I see no reason not to have a grown-up conversation about it.”
On Friday, Archie Watson said of a potential Kentucky Derby bid for Brave Emperor, “How many times do you get the opportunity to have a runner in a race like that? Personally, I feel he would probably suit the Preakness more, but he's done nothing wrong. On pedigree you'd probably say that it would be worth giving the dirt a try, and also on the way he runs, because he does tend to grind it out. That style of running should suit the dirt, but I guess there are a lot of unknowns, like going up two furlongs for the Derby.
“He's as tough as nails and we definitely haven't got to the bottom of him. He responds well and is tough in a battle.”
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