Mark Johnston put his two main G1 1000 and 2000 Guineas contenders through their paces in a racecourse gallop at Haydock Monday. Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal) and Buratino (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) both worked over the Guineas trip of a mile with connections delighted with their well-being.
“They both worked great this morning,” said Johnston's son and assistant Charlie. “It was pretty soft at Haydock and they worked in separate sets of three. William Buick rode Lumiere and James Doyle rode Buratino. Everyone was very happy with them.”
Lumiere established herself as one of the best juvenile fillies in Britain last year when beating Illuminate (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park S. over six furlongs on good ground. How she moved on Monday over the extra distance on different underfoot conditions filled Johnston with confidence.
“William said that Lumiere, despite never having run on it, handled the soft ground really well and she looks in great form. It is another reason to be optimistic that if it did turn up with a bit of cut in the ground that it would not inconvenience her, judged on that.”
Buratino had a busy first season, running eight times, winning four and never finishing worse than third. He showed his class when beating Air Force Blue (War Front) in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot before that rival turned the tables in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. with Buratino back inthird at The Curragh Aug. 9. Buratino concluded his juvenile campaign with a runner-up performance in the wake of Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket Sept. 26.
“We know Buratino is a much better horse on quicker ground, but even so James was very pleased with the way he felt,” said Johnston. “The plan is now to go to the Craven meeting and gallop them both before racing on Thursday, all being well.”
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