Getting Rolling Again

Not long ago seen as a valid contender for the G1 2000 Guineas and Derby, Ol’ Man River (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) has ground to make up after two high-profile flops so far this term as he tackles Royal Ascot’s G2 King Edward VII S. on Friday. The ‘TDN Rising Star’ was never able to go the gallop before finishing last of 18 in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2 and although he put up an improved effort when sixth in the G2 Dante S. at York stepped up to 10 furlongs 12 days later, he was still off the pace and finished 22 lengths adrift there. Last year’s G2 Beresford S. winner has potentially an easier task at hand here and stable confidence has returned. “There was something amiss with Ol’ Man River, but we have given him a break,” Aidan O’Brien explained. “He has bounced back from York and we have been happy with him since. For whatever the reason, I couldn’t get the Derby horses to come to hand.” Like Sir Michael Stoute’s two most recent winners Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Papal Bull (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), Stravagante (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has emerged from the handicaps and he bids to provide his trainer with a seventh winner of this prestigious race. Now part-owned by Al Shaqab Racing after a last-minute transaction Thursday, he sported the silks of his other owner, Michael Tabor, when winning the same Epsom Derby-day handicap which the stable’s 2008 King Edward VII runner-up Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) had taken en route. 

In a race of unexposed types, Al Asayl Bloodstock’s Balios (Ire) (Shamardal) looked to have much improvement in him when second in the May 2 Listed Newmarket S. over 10 furlongs, and that may also apply to Godolphin’s Festive Fare (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). He was last seen filling fourth spot behind Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the Listed Feilden S. over nine furlongs at Newmarket Apr. 15, and trainer Charlie Appleby believes this rise in trip will bring out the best in him. “We purposely took our time with him after the Feilden as he’s still very immature, mentally as much as physically, but we’ve been very pleased with his preparation,” he said. “The Feilden form has obviously worked out well and I think the step up in trip is there to help him. The job is to get him to settle and hopefully he will come home over the trip. I think the ground will suit him and we’re looking forward to running, but he is still very much a work in progress. It’s a small field, so hopefully we’ll learn a bit more about him and he’ll learn a bit more about racing.”