Kentucky Derby adventure off the agenda for Brave Emperor

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Archie Watson’s Brave Emperor has been confirmed as set for travelling duty – but will stay closer to home rather than bid for Kentucky Derby glory.

The three-year-old had earned a spot in the ‘Run for the Roses’ through the European qualifying system, but having weighed up all the pros and cons, owners Middleham Park Racing have decided he will be better off in a Group Three in Germany.

Should his progress continue he will then have some lofty targets on the domestic front, including likely at Royal Ascot.

“We won’t be going there on this occasion, unfortunately,” said Middleham Park’s Tom Palin.

“We ran the numbers and as much as it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it would wipe out all of his prize-money and while you shouldn’t really try to make sense of this game, we did this time.

“He is on his travels, he’s going to go to Germany for a Group Three on April 28 (Krefeld, Dr Busch Memorial), that’s where he’ll run next.

“He’s got no penalties. He has won a Listed race but he’s picked up novices, handicaps and conditions races so for a serial winner like him he doesn’t have penalties so we can pick and choose.

“He should be rocking up at all the big meetings, Royal Ascot, Goodwood, so we’ll hopefully have a good summer with him.

“Trip-wise, 10 furlongs might be a question mark, but certainly nine furlongs we are of the opinion is no problem, it is almost nine furlongs in Germany and we’re confident about that.

“I can’t see why he wouldn’t see 10 out in the future. We could maybe think about something like the Hampton Court at Ascot.”

Dusart heads the weights for Scottish National

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Nicky Henderson’s Dusart will head a field of 23 in Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

A winner at the meeting last season when he beat the smart Sounds Russian, he has had an interrupted campaign this year, only running twice.

He will attempt to carry 12st to victory, 7lb more than the nearest in the weights – Paul Nicholls’ Threeunderthrufive who finished a creditable eighth behind subsequent Grand National winner Corach Rambler in the Ultima at Cheltenham.

There has been plenty of money through the week for Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genius as he finished third in the UItima, a little over two lengths behind the impressive winner.

Mighty Thunder won the race in 2021
Mighty Thunder won the race in 2021 (Jeff Holmes/PA)

Corach Rambler’s trainer Lucinda Russell is bidding for a Grand National double with Your Own Story and Mighty Thunder, who won the race in 2021.

Sandy Thomson’s Empire Steel and Flower Of Scotland, Nick Alexander’s Elvis Mail, Stuart Coltherd’s Cooper’s Cross and Iain Jardine’s Half Shot are others trying to keep the prize in Scotland.

Last year’s contest was won by the Christian Williams-trained mare Win My Wings, now retired, but behind her in second was stablemate Kitty’s Light and he is back in a bid to go one better and add to the Eider Chase he won in February.

Gavin Cromwell, who went so close to winning the Aintree National with Vanillier, sends over Malina Girl with Liz Doyle’s Flash De Touzaine and John Ryan’s Waitnsee other Irish contenders.

“Although we don’t have a full field of 30 for this year’s Coral Scottish Grand National, we do have a fiercely competitive renewal that will once again ensure the race features prominently in the highest turnover list come year end,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

“Kitty’s Light remains favourite to go one place better than 12 months ago, but only just, with Monbeg Genius the best-backed horse this week.”

King Of Steel could test Classic aspirations at Sandown

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If his size and scope are matched by achievements on the track this season, the exciting King Of Steel – who could start off at Sandown next week – promises to be a horse to follow.

Owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation, the strapping son of Wootton Bassett was not seen until October during his two-year-old season but proved well worth the wait, bolting up on debut at Nottingham in the hands of Adam Kirby.

Sights were soon raised and he was pitched into the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster for his second start and although failing to land a blow in that Group One assignment, he remains a colt of significant potential ahead of his three-year-old campaign.

Switched to Roger Varian over the winter, he is in line for a step up to 10 furlongs in the Esher track’s bet365 Classic Trial before potentially following a similar path to the Carlburg handler’s St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov as the season progresses.

“He’s a very nice horse and he just doesn’t realise how big he is,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for Amo.

“He is absolutely enormous, but he is such a gentle giant and so straightforward and easy to deal with. Roger is thrilled with him.

King Of Steel after winning the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Nottingham
King Of Steel after winning the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Nottingham (PA)

“He really is a super balanced horse for his size and it is only when you stand into him you realise how big he is.

“He has some fancy entries and we don’t know exactly where we are going to go with him yet, but as things stand we could go to Sandown a week on Friday for the Classic Trial. I think a stiff 10 furlongs there on softish ground would be a nice starting point.

“You would hope he might go to Royal Ascot for something like the Queen’s Vase and then build through the season to be a Leger horse, but it is still early days.”

Silver Lady proves a big hit at Newmarket

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Charlie Appleby raised the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot as a potential summer target for Silver Lady after the newcomer lived up to her billing on day two of the Craven meeting at Newmarket.

The three-year-old is bred to be smart as a daughter of Sea The Stars out of Group One-winning mare Lumiere, and the Newmarket dogs were barking her name in the hours leading up to her Rowley Mile debut, with strong support seeing her go off the even-money favourite for the bet365 European Breeders’ Fund Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The result was never really in any doubt, with Silver Lady overcoming brief signs of greenness racing out of the dip to put the race to bed within a few strides – eventually passing the post with just under four lengths in hand over Never Ending in the hands of William Buick.

It is a measure of the regard in which the winner is held that Appleby briefly flirted with the idea of supplementing her for the Qipco 1000 Guineas, but she appears more likely to take a less adventurous next step on her way to the showpiece summer meeting in Berkshire.

“She’s done some nice home work, she’s got a great pedigree and at the end of the day she was touted,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“She hasn’t got any lofty entries and isn’t in the Guineas. We’ll go back and review whether she’s a filly we’d contemplate supplementing, or whether we take baby steps and bring her on towards something like the Coronation Stakes.

“We’ve got a filly in the Guineas in Dream Of Love who I feel is a realistic filly to be running there and this filly might just want time. Speaking to William, the Guineas might come a bit too soon.

“She’s had a lovely experience here today. I don’t think she’s an Oaks filly as she’s got too much pace for that. She’s from a family with huge talent and if we mind her hopefully she’ll repay us.”

Persian Dreamer leads the way at Newmarket
Persian Dreamer leads the way at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Dominic Ffrench Davis is excited to see how far Persian Dreamer can climb the ladder following a similarly sparkling debut in the bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The Lambourn-based trainer is in charge of an exciting squad for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation and Persian Dreamer appears to be towards the top of the juvenile pecking order.

A €145,000 purchase as a yearling, the daughter of Calyx was an 11-4 shot for her racecourse debut in the bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and looked every inch a Royal Ascot contender as she powered three and a quarter lengths clear of fellow newcomer Dorothy Lawrence under Kevin Stott.

Amo Racing were completing a double on the afternoon after Mammas Girl confirmed herself a major 1000 Guineas contender with victory in the preceding Nell Gwyn Stakes and Ffrench Davis is hopeful his filly can go on to scale similar heights.

He said: “She’s a nice, quality filly who has always shown a bit of class at home and Kevin came down and rode her work and loved her.

“That (Royal Ascot) would have to be the target, she’s an exciting one for the future and she has got that bit of class – she’s not just an out-and-out five-furlong early two-year-old.

“We’ll see how she comes out this and how she progresses from the race before any decisions are made, but she’s definitely right up there. Certainly of the two-year-old fillies, she’s the best.

“It’s exciting for Kia. He’s just won a Guineas trial and he’s also got a filly who might be here this time next year.”

Ffrench Davis also has the Royal meeting in mind for Surely Not (9-1), who had earlier provided him with his very first winner on the Rowley Mile in the the Connaught Access Flooring Handicap, with Hollie Doyle the winning rider.

Surely Not and Hollie Doyle winning the opening race at Newmarket
Surely Not and Hollie Doyle winning the opening race at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

“Perhaps they went off a bit quick and our plan was always to drop in,” said the trainer.

“He was unlucky not to win a good nursery at Goodwood last year, then he won at Newbury for Hollie and I ran him once too often on heavy ground at York at the end of the season.

“He got a little above himself, so we picked his pockets (gelded him) over the winter and it’s really settled him down and made a man of him.

“We’d have to think about Royal Ascot if we’re good enough to go there, but we may have to have another run in between, depending on what the handicapper does.”

Orazio finished with gusto to claim the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap for Charlie Hills.

The grey son of Caravaggio was sidelined for 17 months following a promising juvenile campaign in 2021 and having blown away any cobwebs with a comeback run at Kempton in January, he was sent off at 9-1 for his return to the grass.

As is usually the case, Buick timed his challenge to perfection, deliver Orazio with withering late run to get up and beat 4-1 joint-favourite Probe by a length.

“He obviously missed the whole of last season, so it was always the plan to give him a run during the winter to try and get the freshness out of him and then bring him back for the turf,” said Hills.

“He was placed in the Rose Bowl as a two-year-old and was well fancied for the Gimcrack. Obviously he went wrong between then and now – he had a setback that needed a bit of time.

“I’d like to work back from the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.”

Caribean Boy picks up silver spoils at Cheltenham

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Nicky Henderson was delighted to raise a glass to Caribean Boy, who caused a 28-1 upset in landing the Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Daryl Jacob’s mount had dropped 3lb below his last winning mark at Kempton 15 months previously, and he came with a withering run up the hill in the extended two-and-a-half-mile feature, passing long-time pace-setter Gemirande inside the final half furlong to score by four lengths.

Gemirande was demoted to third behind Super Six, who was hampered in the closing stages.

Henderson was delighted, if a little surprised, and quipped: “It has been a long time between drinks and I get thirsty!

“The only thing I was gagging to do was run him in the Topham, because I thought he was made for it, but he doesn’t like big fields.

“You can see Daryl has gone round them and given him plenty of daylight all the way. It was his first run back after a wind operation and it is noticeable at home how much lower he has been carrying his head than he was before.

“It is great to see him back. He’s a lovely horse and a good friend. He enjoyed it and has always jumped great.”

Jacob added: “He was a very good horse when he won at Newbury in November 2020 and I thought he was going to be the next Bristol De Mai, but it hasn’t worked out that way.

“He is still a very talented horse. For the ability he has, we were hoping for a lot better, but it’s good to get the ‘W’ today.”

Willaston/Cheltenham
Willaston and Jamie Hamilton scored for Mark Walford (Simon Milham/PA)

Evan Williams’ 12-year-old former Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, Coole Cody, who made much of the pace before tiring, was retired after the race. He won nine of 42 races, earning over £340,000 in prize-money.

Willaston similarly helped the bookmakers with a 33-1 success in the Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle scoring by three-quarters of a length under Jamie Hamilton.

Winning trainer Mark Walford said: “I thought he gave him a lovely, patient ride. We were coming here and thinking we had half a chance of a place, but didn’t think we’d be winning.

“He had a good run at Bangor last time and was always going to come on a bit for that. He is a chaser in the making, so there’s a lot to look forward to.”

Tim Vaughan is having a great season back in the big time and bottom-weight Madera Mist ran out a game 14-1 winner of the Gloucester Brewery Handicap Chase under Alan Johns.

Owners Paul and Louise Bowtell saw their patience rewarded by the mare who has not been easy to condition.

Vaughan said: “She is tricky to catch right. She is very particular. She has problems with her bloods consistently, she’ll tire consistently – lactic acid build-up in her muscles.

“We try to prime her for Cheltenham. She stays forever and loves it round here, so we target this meeting every year and she has won three times around here.

“I can’t explain how nice a feeling it is to repay Paul and Louise’s faith and patience with me.

“For it to come off on the day, we’re thrilled. It is a phenomenal win really.”

Gordon Elliott/Cheltenham
Gordon Elliott gives the thumbs up after The Friday Man’s success (Simon Milham/PA)

The burgeoning partnership of trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Sean Bowen, whom many see as a champion of the future, was on the mark when The Friday Man (9-2) took the Citipost Novices’ Hurdle.

Elliott said: “He’s a nice horse and won a couple of hurdle races for us last year. He’s a novice for a while and so we thought we’d take our chance.

“We will try to support Sean now as much as we can for the summer. We’ll let the bandwagon roll for the next few months and will bring as many over for him as we can.

“It just kind of works. He is first jockey to Olly (Murphy) now and we like to use him.”

The Friday Man/Sean Bowen/Cheltenham
Sean Bowen and Gordon Elliott teamed up to score with The Friday Man (Simon Milham/PA)

He added: “I’d say no doubt he will be champion jockey one day. He has Brian Hughes in front of him, but he’s young and has time on his side.”

Captain Cattistock justified 9-2 favouritism when taking the Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase under a never-say-die ride from 3lb claimer Liam Harrison.

Captain Cattistock/Cheltenham
Captain Cattistock took the same race as he did last year under Liam Harrison (Simon Milham/PA)

The 10-year-old, who missed the cut for the Grand National field, was winning the three-and-a-quarter-mile event for a second successive year.

Trainer Fergal O’Brien said: “He is a phenomenal horse. He seldom runs a bad race here and seldom runs a bad race full stop. Liam gave him a lovely ride.

“This was always plan A. Most years we wouldn’t get anywhere near (Aintree) anyway.”

Sam Twiston-Davies displayed his talents as he kept Broadway Boy (3-1) up to his game in landing the Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle for his father, trainer Nigel.

Broadway Boy/Cheltenham
Broadway Boy has a bright future according to Sam Twiston-Davies (Simon Milham/PA)

The five-year-old had to fend off Hurricane Harvey and Santos Blue, but he dug deep to score by three-quarters of a length.

The winning jockey said: “He was good today, very brave and has a great attitude. He will make into a nice staying chaser, hopefully.”

Nicholls still hoping Bravemansgame can get to Punchestown

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Paul Nicholls is still holding out hope he might be able to run Bravemansgame at the Punchestown Festival.

The King George VI Chase winner was prevented from running at Aintree last week as part-owner John Dance saw his company WealthTek LLP placed into special administration by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Dance’s name was removed from the racecard and the Gold Cup runner-up was due to run in the sole ownership of Bryan Drew. However, the evening before the race the British Horseracing Authority announced it had received further information from the FCA which meant the horse would not be allowed to run.

Nicholls said: “I want Bravemansgame to go to Punchestown. I don’t know whether there is a chance.

“Something might get sorted on Thursday, but I’m not sure. That’s for them to sort out. If we can go, then we’ll go, but if we can’t he’ll be out, unfortunately.”

Mammas Girl motors to deeply impressive Neill Gwyn success

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Mammas Girl added her name to the Qipco 1000 Guineas picture with a blistering display in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket.

Owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing and trained by Richard Hannon, she was an impressive winner of a course-and-distance maiden at the end of last season, but sent off 16-1 for this seven-furlong Group Three event.

However, despite her outsider status, the performance she produced was straight out of the top drawer.

Sean Levey was in no rush in the early stages as he kept the daughter of Havana Grey anchored in rear.

But the duo slowly crept their way into a position to pounce and once Levey asked his mount for maximum effort there was no filly flying home quicker – advertising her electric turn of foot to shoot two and three-quarter lengths clear of Charlie Appleby’s Fairy Cross at the line.

Her price was slashed for the Guineas in the aftermath, with both Paddy Power and Betfair going 8-1 from 50s then further knocked down to 6-1 for the opening fillies’ Classic of the new campaign. And Hannon confirmed a return to the Rowley Mile would come next.

He said: “She won very well here first time, but even so I was slightly worried about the track.

Mammas Girl ridden by jockey Sean Levey on their way to winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on day two of the bet365 Craven Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse
Mammas Girl ridden by jockey Sean Levey on their way to winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on day two of the bet365 Craven Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse (Tim Goode/PA)

“She’s very straightforward. She missed the gate today, which I was surprised at, but she’s won extremely well.

“She’s worked very well all spring and I thought she’d run very well today, although I must admit she’s surprised me slightly in the way she’s won.

“What I like about her is she’s gone slightly under the radar, but we’ve always loved her at home.

“She looks a very good filly, but all my Guineas winners were beaten in trials – Sky Lantern, Night Of Thunder and Billesdon Brook. Hopefully she bucks the trend as she’ll be coming back here, for sure.”

Joorabchian added: “It’s amazing – I can’t hold my excitement, to be honest.

“It’s very, very exciting winning a Nell Gwyn here. We’ve competed for the last few years and haven’t quite managed to get through the line.

“She was fantastic today and gave a cracking performance on her debut. We’ve always loved her and we couldn’t believe what price she was today.

“I’ve got a really big weekend (first weekend in May) as I’ve got Affirmative Lady in America and she’s going for the Kentucky Oaks, having won the Gulfstream Oaks quote convincingly.

“That means I’ve got to decide whether to go there or come here, but it’s a good decision to have to make.”

Canberra Legend opens up Classic possibilities

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James Ferguson looks to have a smart prospect on his hands after Canberra Legend advertised his talent with victory in the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Australia created a deep impression when winning at Newcastle on debut, but this was a marked step up in class for just his second racecourse appearance.

Settled in mid-division as Charlie Johnston’s Killybegs Warrior led the field along, he was one of four to pull away from the pack as the race began to develop inside the final quarter of a mile.

In fact it looked as if Kolsai would provide Roger Varian with back-to-back victories in the Listed contest as Canberra Legend got lost heading into the dip. But as he hit the rising ground, the 15-2 shot found top gear and was keeping on strongly to take down Kolsai deep inside the final furlong.

Owned by Bon Ho – who enjoyed plenty of success alongside the Kremlin Cottage handler with Deauville Legend last term – Canberra Legend holds Classic entries in both the Qipco 2000 Guineas and the Betfred Derby, with Paddy Power going 20-1 from 50s for the Epsom contest on June 4.

Although a next port of call is still to be decided, Ferguson hinted a return to the Rowley Mile on Coronation day may come too soon, with York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on May 18 an alternative option.

Ferguson said: “He was quite inexperienced coming into the race, so I was delighted with how professional he was when the gates opened. From that wide draw he had every opportunity to be a bit keen and free, but he settled into the race really well.

“I thought he was given a lovely ride and from the jockey’s actions it looked like Dan was pretty happy the whole way, so I’m absolutely thrilled.

“He always has a been a big type, but he did show his class at two. We all made a decision to leave him and let him develop over the winter and that run at Newcastle and today showed he does have the ability that he’d shown us at home.

“I think he will definitely get further in time. Whether the Guineas is unlikely or not, I can’t say that without talking to the owner.

“He’s in the Guineas and the Dante. I think we have to see how he comes out of the race, the Guineas isn’t that far away. He looks like he wants further, but I have to talk to the owner first.

“We’ve got a lot of options ahead of us and it’s very exciting to have a horse of this calibre.”

There was further joy for Ferguson when 3-1 favourite Like A Tiger overcame a slow start to win the concluding Price Promise At bet365 Handicap in imperious fashion.

The 10-furlong handicap has some useful names on its roll of honour and Ferguson believes there could be plenty more to come from the improving son of Farhh, who was four lengths clear of the opposition at the winning post.

Ferguson said: “He’s obviously improved a lot since last year, but his pedigree said he would.

“I’d say I’ve got a bit of stalls work to do! He’s normally very relaxed, so that did surprise me. Luckily they didn’t go very quick so he caught up nicely and didn’t take too much out of himself.

“I think the ground was a big factor for him today. You can see from his knee action that he’s got a soft ground action and good to soft really plays into his favour.

Like A Tiger (right), here finishing second on debut, made a winning return to the Rowley Mile in the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap
Like A Tiger (right), here finishing second on debut, made a winning return to the Rowley Mile in the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I can see him getting a mile and a half no problem. He’s got the usual entries and we’ll have to see how he gets on and where the right place for him is.

“He’s a very likeable horse and a bit of a yard favourite.”

Like Canberra Legend, Like A Tiger holds a Dante entry, but it seems unlikely will both head for the Knavesmire next month.

Ferguson added: “I wouldn’t want them to take each other on, I don’t think there’s any need to do that.

“It’s exciting to have the two of them. We’ve got a number of quality horses in the yard and hopefully we can continue on this track.”

Mysterious Night takes Newmarket test in Craven

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The bet365 Craven Stakes has proved something of a Charlie Appleby benefit in recent years and Mysterious Night is the colt entrusted with enhancing the fine record of Moulton Paddocks in the race this time around.

The champion trainer has won three of the last four runnings of this flagship Qipco 2000 Guineas trial, landing the spoils in 2018 with subsequent Derby hero Masar and also sending out Classic winner Native Trail to score 12 months ago.

Mysterious Night was set to be joined in the line-up by stablemate Naval Power, but Appleby revealed on Wednesday morning he will be rerouted to the Dante having become cast in his box.

Nevertheless the sole Godolphin representative is well worth his place as paper favourite having tasted big-race success both in Deauville and Woodbine last year and Appleby is keen to see how the son of Dark Angel handles the undulations of the Rowley Mile.

He said: “He has already won at Grade One level in Canada. He’s a horse that has strengthened and done very well for the winter.

“The track (at Newmarket) will be interesting for him as he’s got a great big stride on him and my only concern would be how he handles it. That is why we are running him in the Craven to test his mettle there.”

The Foxes saw the form of his course and distance Royal Lodge victory boosted by the runner-up Dubai Mile in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and could add his card to the strong hand Andrew Balding has to play in the Classics this term.

John and Thady Gosden’s Mostabshir created a deep impression with a four-length debut victory at Kempton and is pitched straight into a Guineas trial for his second start.

“He won his only start nicely and now we’re dropping him in the deep end a bit with only one run under his belt,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for Mostabshir’s owners Shadwell.

“They’ve all been happy with him at home so with the season starting we need to know where we are with him.

“He’s still entered in the Guineas and I’m imagining that will come too quick for him, but let’s see how we get on Thursday.

“He’s the least experienced in the field and it will tell us a lot more in terms of his class and the track and all those things. It’s a learning curve.”

Indestructible found himself bumping into the Balding-trained Chaldean throughout his two-year-old career with Michael O’Callaghan, but those placed efforts in the Acomb Stakes and Champagne Stakes give connections plenty to get excited about ahead of his first start for new handler Karl Burke.

“His pedigree suggests he will get a mile and he got seven furlongs well last year as a two-year-old,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing.

Indestructible (centre) finishing second to Chaldean in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
Indestructible (centre) finishing second to Chaldean in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)

“The form is there. He has to make the improvement from two to three, but he definitely has the scope to do that and the form is in the book so he will be a nice three-year-old going forward hopefully.”

Meanwhile, Clive Cox has elected to give Horris Hill third Ancestral Land a sighter of the Rowley Mile rather than return to Newbury for the Greenham Stakes on Saturday.

He said: “We have chosen to go this route and it will be nice to give him an opportunity to run at the track. He is a horse we hold in high enough regard and it is a very nice starting point which will help form our plans from here.

“His whole demeanour gives us the impression he will get a mile and we hope that will be possible. I trained his dam to win over five furlongs, but he is a horse that has done exceptionally well physically and he hit the line well over seven last year. He is a horse that gives us the impression a mile is definitely within his compass.”

Roger Teal’s Dancing Magic and Hughie Morrison’s Mr Mistoffelees complete the seven-strong field.

Dubai Mile edging towards Guineas after Newmarket workout

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Charlie Johnston is well aware Dubai Mile might find the Qipco 2000 Guineas a touch on the sharp side but after watching him come through a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile, he was enthused as to what the future may hold.

A Group One winner over 10 furlongs in France at two, Dubai Mile’s main aim this season is the Betfred Derby and Johnston is coming round to the idea that they have nothing to lose by running in the Guineas first.

Should the ground come up testing, then the Middleham handler may even have a chance of breaking his Classic duck earlier than he originally thought.

Dubai Mile was ridden by Daniel Muscutt over a mile and quickened beyond with Struth (Jason Hart) and Hope You Can Run (Andrea Atzeni).

“We’ve been having a debate internally all spring really regarding what is the best route for this horse,” said Johnston.

“We’re pretty confident his optimum trip this year will be a mile and a half plus and you can see in his work there that he’s not travelling hard on the bridle behind the other horse. He’s a very laid-back horse who is behind the bridle and his last furlong is his best furlong.

“But, having won a Group One as a two-year-old, your route to the Derby is narrowed down quite dramatically. You either have to have to step down in grade or you have to go to the Guineas.

“From an early point it’s been either Guineas-Derby or Dante-Derby. The way they’re in the calendar this year running in all three is pretty unrealistic.

“I’ve spent most of the spring leaning on the side that he should be going Dante-Derby, but Ahmad (Al Shaikh, owner) is always keen to take on a challenge and take the ambitious route – and when you’ve got a Group One-winning two-year-old, the reality is winning the Dante is not going to add anything to this horse’s stallion profile, whereas finishing third in the Guineas would be a big asset to him.”

Dubai Mile returns from his gallop
Dubai Mile returns from his gallop (Ash Iveson/PA)

He went on: “We’re all well aware that this horse is being trained and going to be campaigned as a top-class mile-and-a-half horse, it’s just what we do in the early season to get him there.

“I’d love a soft ground Guineas, then he really would be a player because we know he handles testing conditions, and one asset you can never take for granted here is he’s run over the course and distance. Danny says you don’t even notice the dip on him, he just floats down it and out the other side.

“The Guineas is not a race you go into as a prep race, but if he was running in many ways it would be a prep race for the Derby.”

The Charlie Hills-trained Cicero’s Gift, unbeaten in two outings to date, had a slightly less strenuous workout under Kieran Shoemark in company with Saratoga Gold (Michael Hills).

Cicero’s Gift (near side) finishes upsides his companion
Cicero’s Gift (near side) finishes upsides his companion (Tim Goode/PA)

“He worked well and had a nice little blow afterwards as well actually, so it was just what we wanted I think,” said Hills

“He’s obviously had two starts and two wins and we’re just trying to feel our way really and see exactly where we are and find out a bit more about him. Today he behaved great, had a nice bit of work and did what we asked him.

“We didn’t really want to run in a trial and put three quick races into him. It’s going to be a long season, so we’ll just try to keep him as fresh as we can.

“We’ll see how the week unfolds with the trials and make a decision next week. There is a conditions race at Goodwood around the same weekend as the Guineas, so that could be another route to take, but I’m pretty open-minded at the moment.

“He’s a nice horse and there’s only one Guineas, isn’t there? If we decide against it you’ve got Goodwood and the Dante at York and the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot, something like that. I think I could see him stepping him up in trip later in the year.”