Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, is taking it one step at a time when it comes to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe prospects of New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), eye-catching winner of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on the weekend. Grimthorpe noted the colt's pedigree leads to concerns about whether he can stay the 12 furlong trip.
“You've got to be a little bit steady before we get to that stage mainly because he's by Dubawi, who was basically a miler out of a mare by Zamindar, who was fast,” Grimthorpe told At The Races. “The second dam did stay nearly two miles so there is stamina in the pedigree.”
New Bay has never finished out of the top two in four outings, and was a hard-luck second from a wide draw in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) three weeks before the Jockey Club.
“He had a shocking draw at Longchamp and didn't have a great draw at the weekend, but there weren't as many runners and he put the race to bed in great style,” Grimthorpe added. “Having spoken to Prince Khalid and Andre [Fabre], we've got to try to get him to be the best he possibly can at the best possible distance. He's in the Arc and it would be given top-class consideration.”
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