Twice Over ticking over for Dante; Poulains field takes
shape
Connections of TWICE OVER (Observatory) Thursday issued an
upbeat bulletin ahead of the unbeaten colt’s outing in next Thursday’s Dante S.
(Eng-G2) at
York. Khalid Abdullah’s homebred sidestepped the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) following his
victory over Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality) in the Craven S. (Eng-G3) at Newmarket April 17 and will prep
for the June 7 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) in the extended 10-furlong trial.
“He is in good
form and worked yesterday morning on the Limekilns gallop,” Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. “(Trainer) Henry
(Cecil) seemed pleased, as did (jockey) Ted Durcan and he is in good nick. Missing a
classic is always a nervous thing,
but the main idea was to give him the correct run at the Epsom Derby and the
Dante is the best trial, so at the moment we are happy with that decision.”
In other classic news, Godolphin’s new acquisition IL WARRD (Pivotal) and the Calvera Partnership’s
PACO BOY (Desert Style) were Thursday
supplemented for Sunday’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas)
(Fr-G1) at Longchamp. Connections paid €24,000 each to add the duo, who
respectively boast a 4
1/2-length success in the April 12 listed Easter S. at Kempton when trained by
Marcus Tregoning and a success for the Richard Hannon stable in Newbury’s Greenham S.
(Eng-G3) April 19.
Their presence brought the total declarations
to 20 headed by Il Warrd’s stable companion RIO DE LA PLATA (Rahy), who will be
ridden by Frankie Dettori with Martin Dwyer on Il Warrd. Godolphin’s Racing
Manager Simon Crisford reports that Rio de la Plata, the reigning Jean-Luc Lagardere
(Fr-G1) winner, is ready for the one-mile classic. “
It was always the plan to
go for this race as he liked the track last year,” he said. “It seemed to suit
him very well and he has had a good winter.”
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s unbeaten TAMAYUZ (Nayef) will line up
in the Poulains, trainer Freddy Head confirmed Thursday. Successful in the April 13 Prix de Fontainebleau
(Fr-G3) over course and distance, the homebred pleased his trainer
in a recent workout.
“I am delighted with him at the moment and he worked very
nicely on Tuesday,” he said. “He is well within himself and all we have to do is
wait and cross our fingers.”
Another to book his ticket on Tuesday was Sean Mulryan’s Criterium International
(Fr-G1) hero THEWAYYOUARE (Kingmambo), who will be
making his seasonal debut for the Andre Fabre stable.
“He did a very good piece
of work on Tuesday and everything seems in good order, so he has the green light
to go,” the owner’s Racing Manager Herve Barjot commented.
In Sunday’s companion Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand
Guineas) (Fr-G1), Stephane Pasquier looks set to partner the David Smaga-trained
MODERN LOOK (Zamindar). While Khalid Abdullah is also represented by last year’s
Prix Marcel Boussac (Fr-G1) runner-up CONFERENCE CALL (Anabaa) in the classic,
the owner-breeder’s retained rider is almost certain to ride last year’s Prix Miesque
(Fr-G3) winner, who was runner-up to Natagora (Divine Light) in the April 14 listed Prix
Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte.
“She was running on over seven furlongs last
time and has worked well and come on since,” Grimthorpe
said Thursday. “At the moment, Stephane is leaning towards her, but if she is
drawn 16 of 16 he might think again.”