Godolphin target Irish Derby next for the Epsom Derby winner Masar
Godolphin’s Epsom Derby winner Masar is set for a rematch with the horses he beat on Saturday after the Irish Derby was pencilled in as his next outing.
Masar, ridden by William Buick and trained by Charlie Appleby, gave Godolphin their first ever victory in Britain’s most expensive race when he timed his charge from the pack at Epsom to perfection.
Next up for him, according to Appleby, is a trip to the Curragh on June 30 for the Irish Derby.
“The plan is to run him in the Irish Derby,” Appleby told The
National yesterday.
Mark Johnston and Aidan O’Brien, the trainers of Dee Ex Bee and Saxon Warrior, respectively, who were second and fourth behind Masar on Saturday, have both indicated the Irish Derby as their next stop for the two colts.
Meanwhile, there was no repeat success for the Appleby and Buick combination as Key Victory could only finish eighth at the Prix du Jockey Club race yesterday at Chantilly in France.
Study Of Man under Stephane Pasquier provided French trainer Pascal Bary with his sixth victory in the race.
The colt, owned by the Niarchos family, battled his way to the front in the final 200 metres to win from Patascoy by half-alength with Louis D’Or a further head away in third.
Key Victory had started the race well, and was in the mix coming in the first half of proceedings, but was unable to match the pace of the front runners in the final stages as he faded.
Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos family, in the post-race television interview said it’s a “fantastic chapter” to add to the story of Miesque, in reference to the multiple Group 1 winning grand-dam of Study Of Man.
“When I saw him today I was very calm, because he was very calm. He has that fantastic blend of speed and stamina,” added Cooper.
“He did it very well and he’s shown what Pascal and Stephane have always thought of him was correct - he’s a topclass horse.
“After he won the Prix Greffulhe it was either come here or go to Epsom (for the Derby) and we decided to stay at this distance (mile and a quarter) for the moment.
“We’ll regroup now and see whether he could be a horse for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but let’s not jump to any conclusions. We’ll get him back and get ourselves back and go from there.”