Five days after trainer Hugo Palmer ruled G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold (Ire) (Paco Boy {Ire}) out of G1 Investec Derby contention due to the colt returning the gene profile of a sprinter/miler, Harry Herbert, racing advisor to owner Al Shaqab Racing, said the door hasn't been completely closed on the chestnut participating in the blue riband.
“We just want to leave all options open because you never know,” said Herbert. “If he happens to go to Ireland [for the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas May 21] and win impressively, who knows? Just to shut the door completely is not something [Al Shaqab's] Sheikh Joaan wants to do, and that's absolutely fine.”
“I'm not saying he's going to run in the Derby,” Herbert added. “That's not going to happen unless lots of pieces of the jigsaw fall into place, and even then he may not run. It's purely keeping everything open, which is perfectly sensible.”
Palmer last week had identified the Irish 2000 Guineas and Royal Ascot's G1 St James's Palace S. as Galileo Gold's likely targets.
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