Foundation Training

As exciting a prospect among the British 2-year-olds when winning Newmarket's G2 Royal Lodge S. in September, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) has gone off the boil bit-by-bit and enters Saturday's G3 Rose of Lancaster S. at Haydock with some major changes. Four straight defeats in races he once looked capable of winning, including a latest last of 16 in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 5, have led to a gelding operation and the fitting of blinkers as John Gosden seeks to revitalise him. Harry Herbert, racing manager for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said, “In France he really disappointed all connections. I've never seen John Gosden so genuinely cross after a race as he was generally disappointed with the horse, as he knew he had him in top form. He was very shouty in France calling out to other horses and he was noisy in the race itself, so we ended up doing the dreaded act sooner rather than later. John has reported him in good form and he will have blinkers on to help him concentrate.” Herbert added, “He is very talented. Physically he has done well and his best form entitles him to be competitive. John knows there is a big engine under his bonnet, it is just a case of getting it going again.”

Ballymacoll Stud's Arab Spring (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) is still entire, which speaks volumes of how connections view him despite his training problems. Last seen finishing second in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. over 10 furlongs at Sandown last May, the lightly-raced 6-year-old had looked a potential middle-distance heavyweight when winning the G3 John Porter S. over a mile-and-a-half at Newbury a month earlier. “It looks a good ride to get and I am very lucky to get the ride. He has been off for over 400 days, but it looks to be quite an open race,” jockey Andrea Atzeni commented. “I've not spoken to Sir Michael, but I am sure he has a plan what he wants to do with him. He has obviously had issues but it looks a good starting point for him.”

Godolphin's Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was third in the latest edition of the Brigadier Gerard May 26 before winning the Listed Stevenson S. also over 10 furlongs at Newbury July 16, and is a solid performer at this level. “I am very pleased with him going into this race. He pulled a muscle, that is why he missed Goodwood, but he goes into this race fit and well,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “The trip and ground is there to suit him. He is potentially a specialist over that distance and he won nicely at Newbury over it. Hopefully this is a stepping stone towards going to Australia with him, but he will need to win to justify going there.”