2016 has the look of a big year for trainer Hugo Palmer as he embarks on the season with a string that has almost doubled in size in the past year. It is a string that is also high on quality, especially given the influx of some new Juddmonte pedigrees, and having tasted Classic success last year with Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) Palmer is keen to repeat the dose this season. In the Al Shaqab Racing owned Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) Palmer has what he thinks is a potential G1 Epsom Derby horse, though that is likely not the first Classic the colt will be aimed at. “Galileo Gold will start in a Guineas and it will probably be the French. He probably needs a bit of cut in the ground, not a lot, but genuine good ground would be absolutely fine,” confirmed Palmer. “Subject to the owner's approval he will stay in the (Newmarket) Guineas until it is clear that Air Force Blue will line up on fast ground as those are the two things that will keep him out of it,” added the trainer.
Galileo Gold won the G2 Qatar Vintage S. at Goodwood over seven furlongs and at his first attempt at a mile he was third to Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) in the G1 Qatar Prix-Jean Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. Palmer continued, “He is also in the French Derby as the first thing Frankie [Dettori] said after the Lagardere is that this horse will get 10 furlongs. On pedigree there is a chance he could be a Derby horse and as he is a well balanced horse the unique test that Epsom poses would suit him. There are a lot of bridges to cross before then, though. It's very exciting to have a horse like that.” Palmer's stable star Covert Love is coming along nicely and her targets will be determined by her performances on the track. “She will start in the G2 Middleton S. at York. I'd like to take the colts on but she will have to win the Middleton well to justify going for something like the Prince of Wales's, Eclipse or King George,” said the Newmarket trainer.
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