Tag Archive for: Sir Michael Stoute

Brigadier Gerard comeback beckons for Desert Crown

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Desert Crown is back in stronger work, with Sir Michael Stoute eyeing a familiar race for his return to action.

Last year’s impressive Derby winner has not been seen since it looked like he had the racing world at his feet.

However, speaking after he watched his newcomer Passenger bolt up in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket, Stoute nominated Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes on May 25 for his comeback target.

It is a race Stoute has farmed over the years, winning it 12 times – most recently with Bay Bridge last year who went on to land the Champion Stakes.

“We’re getting him back, he’s in strong work now and we’re looking forward to seeing how he progresses, but so far things have gone very smoothly,” said Stoute.

“He’s done all his foundation work and went into strong work yesterday.

“I think we are (on target for the Brigadier Gerard). All is going well now – the athlete is back in strong work.”

Of Bay Bridge, who beat 2021 Derby winner Adayar and Baaeed in the Champion Stakes, he said:  “He’s in good shape and will either go to Sandown (Gordon Richards Stakes) or to France (Prix Ganay).”

‘Little setback’ scuppers Nostrum’s Guineas hopes

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Nostrum will not run in the Qipco 2000 Guineas having been ruled out of the early part of the season with a setback.

Sir Michael Stoute’s talented colt was unbeaten in his first two starts as a juvenile, including when impressing in the Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket in September, and was last seen finishing third to fellow Juddmonte-owned Classic contender Chaldean in the Dewhurst Stakes.

Those performances saw Nostrum priced as short as 8-1 for opening Classic of the summer, but the son of Kingman will miss out on an early-season return to the Rowley Mile for the Guineas on May 6 and is also ruled out of appearing in the French and Irish equivalents – with connections tentatively highlighting a Royal Ascot date in June.

“Nostrum has had a little setback and he will not run in any of the Guineas,” said Barry Mahon, racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“He’s had a little setback and he just needs a couple of weeks going easy, then hopefully we will have him back for the middle of the summer.

“We’ll just let him tell us. I suppose we will aim for Royal Ascot and if we get there great, but if we don’t, then we will just give him more time.”

Desert Crown ‘in good shape’ as he continues on comeback trail

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Desert Crown, who has not run since winning the Derby in impressive fashion, is back in work and “looks a million dollars” following injury.

The son of Nathaniel has run just three times, including twice in his three-year-old campaign, which saw him land the Dante and the Epsom Classic.

However, Sir Michael Stoute’s star subsequently suffered an ankle injury which saw him miss the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and other big targets last term.

Saeed Suhail will keep him in training as a four-year-old, however, and the owner’s racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said he is back in work at Newmarket.

“Desert Crown is in good shape,” said Raymond. “He was turned out for a bit at Darley.

“He was there for about eight weeks and it did him really good.

“He came back in around mid-November and I saw him last week.

“He looks a million dollars – you’d think it was June. He has a beautiful coat, he looks great and started cantering five days before Michael got back from Barbados. He has been cantering away, although not strong cantering. Everything has been OK.”

Stoute was reluctant to outline plans, stating: “It’s February. I haven’t made any plans and we don’t want to get carried away with anything.”

However, Raymond believes he will head to the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on May 25, before contesting the King George.

He added: “I would have thought he would go to the Brigadier Gerard and then the King George. It is the usual route.

“Michael won’t say anything, of course. If I ask him, he will say, ‘That’s for you to guess and me to know!’.

“So I’m guessing he’s going in that direction, but he does look well and we’ll just have to see what happens.”