NEWS ROUND-UP:MICHAEL STOUTE remains focused on the task in hand as he prepares to saddle a highly significant runner in the Epsom Derby. Interest is steadily building in Queen Elizabeth's Carlton House, now the hot favourite.
Stoute has been encouraged about Carlton House’s chance after last week’s impressive performance in the Dante Stakes at York.
The son of Street Cry had a routine spin up the Warren Hill gallops in Newmarket in front of a large gathering of cameramen and journalists, emphasising the added interest likely to come over the next couple of weeks.
“He seems to have come on from the race very well,” said Stoute.
“He’ll probably have a loosener over the weekend and a proper piece of work next week. We went to York very hopeful. The race was inconclusive but we were happy with what he did. Hopefully we’ll prepare him all right for it.”
Ryan Moore broke his Derby duck on Workforce 12 months ago and believes Carlton House has all the right credentials for the world’s most famous Flat race.
“He’d been working well beforehand (York) and it all went well,” said Moore.
“He was a bit messy early on in the race but once he got rid of that he travelled very well and he found half a bit of room and quickened up very well.
“He wasn’t stopping at York and I don’t really think the trip will be any problem. I seriously doubt he’ll have any problem with Epsom.”
Ed Dunlop feels Native Khan is maturing all the time ahead of his second crack at Classic glory on June 4th.
The talented grey showed smart form as a juvenile and has carried that into this season, winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket before returning to Headquarters to finish third in the 2,000 Guineas.
“He’s very good. The thing I’m really pleased with is that he was very fresh and bouncy in the Craven Stakes, but after that we took him for a walk round at Newmarket and he was much more relaxed,” said Dunlop.
Pisco Sour was beaten into third by Carlton House in the Dante but his trainer Hughie Morrison is keen to have another crack at him at Epsom.
“He seems fine and we’re happy with him. He’s a light horse who doesn’t take a lot of work,” Morrison said.
“You can’t be frightened off by one or two horses in a race like the Derby, otherwise there wouldn’t be any runners in it. Our horse will probably need a break after Epsom but he should stay the trip and only time will tell whether he’ll go down the hill.”
Twenty-two colts remain in the reckoning for the Derby following the latest scratchings, while there are 25 possible runners in the Epsom Oaks.
There were no notable withdrawals from either Classic.
Handassa likely to bid for Irish 1,000 Guineas
KEVIN PRENDERGAST’S Handassa could bid to repair her reputation in Sunday’s Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. The three-year-old really impressed on her racecourse debut at the track in October, but she was beaten into fourth when sent off favourite for the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown early this month.
Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, believes she is capable of better than that, but is unsure whether she is up to winning in Classic company or not.
“I know Mr Prendergast did want to run her and we’ll see what happens,” said Gold.
“It’s hard to make a case for her on what she did the other day, but everything went wrong from the moment the gates opened.
“She did everything wrong that she could have done. She didn’t break well, got behind them, jumped the road and got unbalanced.
“I can’t tell you if she’s good enough or not, but all I know is Kevin is keen to run her and for a man of his experience to want to let her run in the Guineas, he must think she’s a decent filly.
“I certainly wouldn’t say she has a good chance of winning it because she ran an ordinary race last time, but she looked decent last year and we’ll see.”
Jessica Harrington will decide whether Laughing Lashes will take her chance after walking the track.
The grey ran no sort of race in a fast-ground 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and her trainer is keen not to run her on such a quick surface again.
“It all depends on the rain. If we get the rain we’re meant to on Saturday, then she’ll run,” said Harrington. “I’ll walk the course on Friday morning and see, but we’re very rain dependant.
“She came out of Newmarket fine, but she just won’t let herself down on firm ground. If the ground was good I’d be happy. I just don’t want to make another cock-up!”
