3 minute read

Seven-year-old came out of piece of work in top shape

We are really happy with him after his first piece of work in quarantine. He trotted up well and ate all his feed last night and couldn’t really have taken it any better. The plan is to probably gallop again on Tuesday and he’ll have a really easy day today and tomorrow, then on Saturday he’ll do one up Warren Hill and round Side Hill, day off on Sunday, easy-ish day Monday and piece of work Tuesday, before flying on Wednesday night. 

It is quite different this year obviously with everything that is going on in the world. So Aled - who will be looking after Arran when he gets to Australia - flew out 11 days ago and he has got three more days of quarantine to go. As with everyone coming into Australia at the moment they require 14 days quarantine in a hotel room, which I think has been quite difficult for him, but he’s amazing and is really looking forward to getting out. Once he’s done a private bus is taking him from Sydney to Melbourne because there are obviously no flights. He’s then got a couple of days in Werribee to wait before the horse arrives. 

With the horse everything is pretty similar there is no real change. The only major change is the lead up. I guess it will be different because for the first time we don’t have to qualify this year and always have had to win our way into the race and that is massive relief, you can go over there and not worry too much about how the first run goes. 

Not having to run in the Herbert Power three days before the race is a bit of a relief as he is a seven-year-old and is getting on a bit, he takes a little bit longer to get fit every year. The plan at the moment will be to have one run before the Melbourne Cup in the Caulfield Cup - he’s not going to be rock hard fit, but he will be pretty fit as he had a run the other day and we have done plenty of work with him since. 

Happy to play the waiting game before choosing a rider
Obviously another change is that with Micheal Walker having to ride Dashing Willoughby and we are currently in the process of trying to find a jockey for Prince Of Arran. We have had a lot of jockeys put their hand up and at the moment I am trying to put a list together, but there are still jockeys putting their hands up as we speak - which is why I don’t want to rush into any decision. But once I feel like I have everyone who is available then I will make a decision who I think will suit him best. 

O’Brien targeting race with strong chances
Of the competition this year, I still think that northern hemisphere three-year-olds have a significant advantage. Cross Counter obviously won two years ago and without any disrespect to Vow And Declare last year I firmly believe that if Il Paradiso had a clear run he would have won it and I think there is still a significant edge for the northern hemisphere three-year-olds. 

I think Aidan O’Brien is bringing down two this year that could be very good in Derby winner Santiago and Tiger Moth. If they do come and, although they are in quarantine, that doesn’t mean they are going to take the trip, but if they do they would be very high up on my list of dangers. 

Dashing Willoughby also really impressed me when he galloped with Prince Of Arran in Newmarket on Wednesday. He looked really good, very fit and looked to be going the better of the two. The only thing I would say is that he looked a lot fitter than Prince Of Arran and also the surface was riding quite deep and it was quite hard work and that wouldn’t have suited him and also we were probably carrying a stone more in weight. 

Horses staying in Australia is a concern for British racing
There are a lot of horses going down and not coming back this year, which is of course great for the Melbourne Cup and Australia, but there is no getting round the fact that it paints a very sad picture of the state of British racing. The horses not coming back - which I think is around 13 out of 29 currently in quarantine - is very concerning and there is one reason: because the prize-money here is poor and this needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. 

John Gosden put it so eloquently the other day that we are fast becoming a nursery for Hong Kong, Australia and America and unless something changes very, very soon European racing is going to get weaker and weaker. If we don’t act soon, horses are going to continue to get sold around the world because you can’t turn down the kind of money we are being offered - the rewards for having a decent horse in Britain are not good enough. 

But yes it is great for Australian racing and the race itself and although many of them won’t be running in it this year, the owners will have an eye on it for the next few years and I’m sure many of them will run in the race next year or the year after. However, to see that sort of talent leave Britain permanently is sad and it makes me extremely worried about the state of racing in this country going forward.