Woodcote Looks For Classic Double

WOODCOTE LOOKS FOR CLASSIC DOUBLE 
Albert Perry’s Woodcote Stud in Epsom will look to record a Classic double in its own backyard this weekend, with homebred Inchila (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) contesting today’s G1 Investec Oaks, and graduate Kingston Hill (GB)(Mastercraftsman {Ire}) amongst the favorites for tomorrow’s G1 Investec Derby. 
“It’s a big weekend for us, as it would be for any farm in this position,” said Barry Reilly, who manages Woodcote alongside his wife, Fiona. “We are really, really excited and it’s a massive occasion for myself, Fiona and our team. We have a small broodmare band and a small farm, so it’s nice to get lucky and have representatives in both Classics, because so much can go wrong. We just hope that both horses put their best foot forward and come back safe and sound.” 
Woodcote has been involved in raising a number of top-class performers–including Where Or When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who defeated Hawk Wing in the 2002 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., and G1 French 1000 Guineas winner Danseuse Du Soir (Ire) (Thatching {GB})–but has yet to get its name on a British Classic. Inchila is around between 40-1 and 50-1 with most bookmakers for today’s Oaks, but she has the benefit of a Classic-winning trainer in Peter Chapple-Hyam. Inchila broke her maiden at third asking at Newbury Apr. 11 and was most recently fourth, beaten three lengths, in that course’s Listed Fillies’ Trial S. May 16. 
“Inchila was in season at Newbury, so that’s what we put that run down to,” Reilly explained. “Pete [Chapple-Hyam] was very disappointed that day because he thought she could win the race. She did her final piece of work last week and is very, very well. She has always worked like a nice filly. The Investec Oaks has been the plan for a long time and we are hoping that a step up to a mile-and-a-half will be right up her street.” 
Reilly added: “Her auntie, Inchberry, was fourth in 2003 and, although she had better form on paper having been listed-placed at two, we think Inchila is a really nice filly. The trainer will tell us, but I think she will be ridden a bit more handily than she has been in the past. We think we have got a really good chance of finishing in the first three, and I know Pete thinks the same because he wouldn’t waste our time.” 
Kingston Hill was bred by Perry’s Ridgecourt Stud and consigned by Woodcote to Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where he realized 70,000gns from Charlie Gordon-Watson, acting on behalf of owner Paul Smith. Kingston Hill promptly outran his modest price tag, going unbeaten through a 2-year-old campaign culminating in a victory in the G1 Racing Post Trophy. Kingston Hill could manage only eighth in the G1 2000 Guineas May 3, but is expected to enjoy tomorrow’s added distance and likely soft going. 
“It has been a great 12 months with Kingston Hill,” said Reilly of the Roger Varian-trained colt. “We always liked him–his nickname was Milo–and he was born in the same box here as his mother.” 
“All things considered, it was a decent trial in the Guineas, but when we planned the mating, we didn’t think he would be a mile-and-a-half horse,” Reilly noted. “We thought he would be a good miler who would get 10 furlongs in time because, although his dam [Audacieuse] did her winning on soft ground over middle distances, she wasn’t a plodder and had plenty of gears. Ironically, we don’t want the ground too soft for Inchila, but soft ground would be ideal for Kingston Hill as we know he handles it well. Fiona and I walked the course on Tuesday and it was in great condition–I don’t think the ground will be an excuse for any horse.”