HORSE RACING:AGAIN MAY have been David Wachman's weekend heroine at the Curragh but the new Classic-winning trainer also saw enough in Bushranger's defeat on Saturday to still encourage hopes of taking on some of the world's best sprinters at Royal Ascot.
Last year’s Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner ran fourth to Utmost Respect on ground he hated in Saturday’s Greenlands Stakes which was his first start of 2009.
At halfway it briefly looked like being a very bad day at the office indeed for Bushranger but he ran on noticeably well under Johnny Murtagh to leave Wachman satisfied with the performance and dreaming of bigger things.
Royal Ascot’s Golden Jubilee Stakes looks like being Bushranger’s next start and that Group One over six furlongs is also a target for a collection of the world’s star sprinters including the Hong Kong champion Sacred Kingdom, Australian star Scenic Best and South African Group One winner JJ The Jet Plane. The French champion Marchand D’Or is also a Golden Jubilee possible.
However, Wachman reported of Bushranger yesterday: “I would imagine we will look at the Golden Jubilee. It’s over six furlongs which looks his trip and he should get quick ground there as well.
Bushranger is currently a 25 to 1 in betting with Hills for the Ascot highlight.
Wachman also reported that Again has emerged in good shape from her Irish 1,000 Guineas victory but no target has been set for her next race. Currently a 7 to 1 shot for the Oaks in 11 days time, there are fears about the Epsom Classic coming too quickly on the back of the Curragh but the trainer has no fears as regards a step up to a mile and a half.
“You can never be sure until they do it but I don’t think a mile and a half would be a problem,” he said. “She seems fine and Epsom is definitely still a possible. We will leave a decision until late. I want to see what Michael (Tabor) and John (Magnier) want to do in terms of their other options for the race.”
Plans are also uncertain for Sunday’s other Group One winner, Casual Conquest, with the Moyglare Stud team also believing that Epsom’s Coronation Cup could come too quick for the Tattersalls Gold Cup winner.
“We have not really made any plans for him and we will play it by ear. Epsom may be a bit too soon,” said the Moyglare manager Stan Cosgrove. “We will have to look at ground and a whole lot of other things before deciding where to go.”
Immediately after Sunday’s race, trainer Dermot Weld said he was pondering a summer off for Casual Conquest before returning for the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
John Oxx is waiting on weather conditions before nominating a target for Rayeni who finished runner up to Mastercraftsman in Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas. “He has come out of the race well, 100 per cent,” Oxx said yesterday. “Plans depend on the weather because he must have it soft.”
