Tag Archive for: Westover

Westover team positive after fine effort behind magical Equinox

/in /by

Connections of Westover are excited to see what the rest of the year has in store after finishing best of the rest behind the brilliant Equinox at Meydan last weekend.

Third in last year’s Derby at Epsom before a dominant victory in the Irish equivalent, the Ralph Beckett-trained Westover disappointed in the King George at Ascot in July before rounding off his campaign with sixth place in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Juddmonte-owned son of Frankel was making his four-year-old debut in Saturday’s Dubai Sheema Classic – and while he was reported to be a little over enthusiastic in his preparation, he proved his ability remains very much intact by filling the runner-up spot behind the devastating Japanese winner.

“We were very, very happy with what was his first run of the year after a long time off the track – you couldn’t have asked for much more,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“Equinox looks a very good horse, to be fair. He looked very fit beforehand and won in the manner of an exceptionally good horse. I think we’ll be trying to stay away from him wherever he goes!

“I think it was well documented that Westover didn’t settle in get over there. With it being his first run of the year, he was a bit full of himself and got a lit up there during the week. On his first morning out on the track, he got a bit of a head of steam up and ended up doing a lap too many!

“We were a little nervous going into Saturday, but luckily it all worked out well and he ran a blinding race and that should settle him down and set him up for what will hopefully be a good season.”

Westover holds an entry in the 10-furlong Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 28, while the following weekend’s Coronation Cup at Epsom over a mile and a half is an obvious alternative.

Mahon is in no rush to commit to future plans at this stage, but is hopeful he can prove effective over both distances in his search for further top-level honours.

He added: “The Tattersalls Gold Cup might come a bit soon for him, but we’ll see. I’d imagine he’ll get an entry in the Coronation, too.

“A couple of weeks later you have the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as well, so all those races are going to be under consideration and it just depends which one he’s peaking for at the time.

“I don’t think he’d have that much problem over 10 furlongs. He won his Derby trial last year over 10 and if you stopped the Irish Derby at the 10-furlong marker, it was well and truly over at that stage.

“I think he definitely has enough speed for 10 furlongs, so I think mix it up through the year between 10 and 12 and hopefully we can win another Group One or a couple of them if we’re lucky.”

Classic hero Westover hunting Sheema success in Dubai

/in /by

Westover makes his return in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on Saturday, with connections hoping he has made the required progress to build on his three-year-old campaign.

Ralph Beckett’s charge was the winner of Sandown’s Classic Trial on his seasonal bow last term and went on to be a somewhat unlucky loser when third in the Derby at Epsom before setting the record straight with a destructive performance in the Irish equivalent.

However, things did not go completely to plan for the son of Frankel following Classic success at the Curragh.

He raced far too keenly when a well-beaten favourite in the King George at Ascot in July, before being freshened up and ending his campaign with a respectable sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Now he heads to Meydan on World Cup night aiming to take the first step on the path to all the top middle-distance contests throughout the upcoming Flat turf season.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him,” said Barry Mahon, racing manager for owners Juddmonte. “He’s a Classic-winning three-year-old and these are the races you have to compete in when you stay in training at four.

“We’re looking forward to getting him going and I think Ralph and his team are happy with him, so we’re hoping for a good run.

“When you are capable of winning Classics at three, you don’t have to improve a lot to be in the mix again in the big races at four and hopefully he is set for a nice four-year-old campaign.”

Both Rob Hornby and Colin Keane rode Westover during his three-year-old season, but the Frankel colt will be partnered for the first time by Ryan Moore in the £3million contest – with Mahon delighted to have acquired the services of one of the world’s leading riders.

Ryan Moore will ride Westover in his Dubai return this Saturday
Ryan Moore will ride Westover in his Dubai return this Saturday (Mike Egerton/PA)

He continued: “Between Australia, Hong Kong and everywhere else, Ryan is a top-class rider. He rides for us when he can and we’re happy to have him.”

The Christophe Lemaire-ridden Equinox, Hong Kong Vase winner Win Marilyn and last year’s champion Shahryar form a strong Japanese hand for the mile-and-a-half Group One.

Elsewhere in the race, Mostahdaf represents John and Thady Gosden following his recent romp in Saudi Arabia, while William Buick is the most successful rider in the race and bids for a fifth victory aboard Charlie Appleby’s Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Rebel’s Romance.

Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori after winning the Dubai World Cup
Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori after winning the Dubai World Cup (Neil Morrice/PA)

It could be a big evening for the Moulton Paddocks handler who is well represented in the Al Quoz Sprint by Super Saturday scorer Al Suhail, has Siskany currently listed as favourite for the Dubai Gold Cup and saddles both Nations Pride and Master Of The Seas in the Dubai Turf.

Frankie Dettori reunites with the Gosden-trained Lord North as the seven-year-old attempts to return to the winner’s circle for the third straight year in that nine-furlong event, while the evergreen Italian teams up with US handler Bob Baffert to ride both Worcester in the UAE Derby and defending champion Country Grammer in the Dubai World Cup.

Currently locked with Jerry Bailey on four victories in the feature contest, Dettori will have the chance to become the outright most successful jockey in the Carnival’s 10-furlong showpiece as he brings the curtain down on his Meydan riding career.