James Owen Revealed as New Trainer of Ambiente Friendly

Last year's Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Ire) will be trained by James Owen when he returns to action as a four-year-old, the Racing Post reported on Thursday.

The son of Gleneagles (Ire) was saddled by fellow Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe when he chased home City Of Troy (Justify) at Epsom last June, having previously announced himself as a serious Classic contender when he won the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes by four and a half lengths. He later finished third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh, before failing to reproduce his best form when down the field on his final two starts of 2024.

“Ambiente Friendly is still a long way off a run,” Tim Gredley, whose family own the colt, told David Milnes of the Racing Post. “The team at Stetchworth [Park Stud] did a great job with him over the winter. It will be interesting to try something different with him.”