EMINENT MAY GO FOR GRAND PRIX
START WITH HORSE RACING
MARTYN MEADE still thinks Eminent can win a Grade One over 12 furlongs despite failing to see out the trip in Saturday’s Derby.
The Newmarket trainer may run his stable star in the Grand Prix De Paris over a mile and a half, rather than take him to Sandown for the Coral–Eclipse.
“The most important thing is he has come out of the race okay and he lives to fight another day,” said Meade yesterday.
“A race like that will take its toll on any three-year-old and he’s lost a little bit of weight.
“He does look great, but as he is a big horse he will need a bit of time.
“He is not actually in the Irish Derby and I don’t think he will go for that. The two races we like ® are the Grand Prix de Paris (July 14) and Coral-Eclipse (July 8).
“They are later than the Irish race so it gives us sufficient time to get him back to his best.
“There is every chance he will go to France but it would be quite good to try the stiff mile and a quarter at Sandown, as it obviously helps a big striding colt and that is what he needs.”
Disappointed
Meade had hoped his son of Frankel would make the first three at Epsom, so was more than a little disappointed that he was only fourth.
“I’ve always said you have got to have the luck in running and a few things didn’t go our way,” said the trainer.
“One thing I didn’t want was for him to be held up and that’s what happened. He broke so well, but then the next minute he was right back and unable to use his stride.
“I don’t want to be critical from that point of view as Jim (Crowley) has to ride the race how he finds it.
“Unfortunately Jim lost his whip. They squeezed him out, but you are not going to be able to squeeze through past jockeys as strong as Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore without a whip.
“I am not saying we would have beaten the winner as he came down the outside with a wet sail, but I certainly think we would have been second or third. I hope there is still a Group One in him this year.” OLADY AURELIA worked well on turf at Lexington yesterday. Last year’s Queen Mary winner returns to Royal Ascot for the King’s Stand on June 20.