Dermot Weld’s star three-year-olds Free Eagle and Mustajeeb could attempt to secure Group One success at Ascot’s Champions Day extravaganza on Saturday week but the Curragh trainer has been forced to retire the 2010 Ascot Gold Cup hero Rite Of Passage.
Weld had been aiming at another return to action for the injury-plagued 10-year-old in next week’s Group Two Long Distance Cup which Rite Of Passage won on Champions Day in 2012. “He was undoubtedly one of the best stayers I’ve trained . . . We were hoping to get him back again this autumn but age and wear and tear was starting to tell and . . . we don’t want to risk him being injured on ground that is too quick,” said Weld.
Instead it looks like Forgotten Rules will fly the Rosewell House flag in the Long Distance Cup and Free Eagle will go in the Champions Stakes. The colt returned to action with a fine Group Three success at Leopardstown last month.
Free Eagle is an 11/4 second favourite with Paddy Power for the Champion Stakes behind Australia who is also among the entries for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Australia apart, Mustajeeb’s official 119 rating is one of the highest among the entries in the QEII and Weld is eyeing that race or a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders Cup Mile for his Jersey Stakes winner. “He’s a possible for the QEII or the Breeders Cup Mile . . . I would say it will be one or the other,” he said.
If Mustajeeb skips Ascot and goes to California, he could be joined by Tarfasha with the Filly & Mare Turf as a target.
Meanwhile, Quick Jack is a warm ante-post favourite for Saturday’s Cesarewtich at Newmarket. Trainer Tony Martin saddled Leg Spinner to land the marathon handicap in 2007 and he has targeted a repeat with Quick Jack. Bookmakers make Quick Jack a general 6/1 favourite while Dermot Weld’s Hidden Universe is a 20/1 shot.
Aidan O’Brien has left El Salvador in the Cesarewitch while Willie Mullins could run Digaenta and Clondaw Warrior, although a 34 runner maximum field leaves the latter dependant on defections.
