Workforce will ‘really need’ run at Sandown

This article titled Sir Michael Stoute says Workforce will really need run at Sandown was written by Chris Cook, for The Guardian on Wednesday 25th May 2011 18.58 UTC

Workforce has drifted in the betting for Thursdays Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown after a very cautious assessment of his chances by Sir Michael Stoute. Last years Derby winner may be in serious need of the outing, the Newmarket trainer said on Wednesday, prompting bookmakers to push him out to odds-against from odds-on.

Hes done very well physically but I think hes really going to need this race, Stoute told At The Races. We decided we wouldnt be in a rush with him this year. His first possible target was the Tattersalls Gold Cup [at the Curragh last Sunday], but we thought we wouldnt take him all the way to Ireland and the race looked tough enough, with So You Think.

Stoute described the Brigadier Gerard as a race I dont particularly like and noted that Workforce would be carrying 7lb more than all his rivals because of his status as a Group One winner from last year. Previously he ran North Light, also the winner of the previous years Derby, in the 2005 Brigadier Gerard and saw him get beaten by New Morning.

I think the main thing is to get his season started and Ill be glad just to get him back on the racecourse, said Stoute, who also had news of Carlton House, his contender for this years Derby. Ive been happy with his preparation, added the trainer, who described the colts last serious piece of work before Epsom as very satisfactory. Carlton House was shortened by several firms but remains a general 6-4.

Frankie Dettori will not attend a hearing on Thursday at the offices of the British Horseracing Authority arising from his failure to take a ride at Newbury a fortnight ago. The jockey told reporters that he had stood himself down because prize money for the race did not meet the minimum level specified by the Horsemens Group tariff but the BHA later announced that he had given a different, unrelated reason to its officials at the track.

It is understood that Dettori has offered no defence and will therefore be found guilty, in absence, of a breach of the rule requiring jockeys to take the rides for which they are declared. He is likely to face a fine of a few hundred pounds.

The Italians employer, Godolphin, has knocked down a suggestion made by a trainer on Twitter that they would withdraw their three Derby entrants out of goodwill towards the Queen, the owner of Carlton House, a horse gifted to her by Sheikh Mohammed. A spokesman for Godolphin insisted that the plan is to be represented in the Epsom classic.

Similar Posts:

Share
October 15, 2011 • Tags: Sandown • Posted in: Sport Betting Analysis

Leave a Reply