Tate out to make Hey a champion in France
Trainer’s 2000 Guineas runner-up in Longchamp primed to go one better in Prix du Jockey Club today
JAMES TATE is hoping Hey Gaman can go one better in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday after finishing an agonising second in the French 2000 Guineas.
Tate returns to France with the New Approach colt, who tries his luck over 10 furlongs for the first time. Sent off an outsider in the French Guineas at Longchamp, he was only headed close home by Olmedo, with whom he renews rivalry in the French Derby.
Also in opposition are a quartet from the Aidan O’Brien yard, with the Ballydoyle trainer out of luck in the English equivalent yesterday, with odds-on favourite Saxon Warrior the best of his in fourth.
One slight negative for Hey Gaman is the draw in stall 13, but Tate is not too concerned about that.
‘I don’t profess to being an expert on French draws, but I do know there’s a long way from the start to the bend,’ said the Newmarket handler. ‘So, while 13 might not be the best draw, I don’t think it will make the difference between if we’re good enough to win or not.
‘We think there’s more to come from him over these sort of trips. We nearly stepped him up to a mile in the Racing Post Trophy last year and the seven furlongs of the Greenham on his return this season was literally just a prep towards a Guineas. Obviously we went to France. He ran really well in that and he was just out-speeded a little close home.
‘The ground looks like being between soft and good to soft which should be fine for us. Hopefully he can go one better.’
Olmedo will have to overcome stall one as he aims to achieve a second Guineas and Derby double in two years for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget after Brametot 12 months ago.
Owners Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand have had a dream run of success in the French Classics recently and their racing manager Sylvain Vidal is hoping the golden run continues.
‘I spoke with the jockey (Cristian Demuro) and he’s told me the horse has worked very well this week, he’s very happy with him,’ said Vidal. ‘So far everything has gone very well so we’ll see.
‘As for the draw, there’s nothing we can do about it and a lot can hap-
0 Aidan O’Brien has never won the Prix du Jockey Club but has got four entries in today’s renewal at Chantilly
pen in a race that you can’t control. We don’t know if he’ll stay the distance but we were happy with him in the Guineas and he finished strongly.
‘It’s so difficult to win the Guineas and the Derby. We did it last year, but to do it again might be asking too much, so we’ll see. All we know is the horse has been working well at home.”
O’Brien, who has never won the race, saddles Hunting Horn, Flag Of Honour, Kenya and Rostropovich, the mount of Ryan Moore. Of the latter, O’Brien said: ‘He’s in good form. He won nicely in Chester and we’re looking forward to seeing him run over a mile and a quarter again.’
Charlie Appleby and William Buick won with Masar at Epsom yesterday and the go for a double with the supplemented Key Victory, who is unbeaten in two starts.
He told www.godolphin.com: ‘We were very pleased with Key Victory’s success in the Newmarket Stakes, particularly with Old Persian going on to frank the form. ‘He learned a lot that day and this race has been the plan ever since. ‘Both of his runs so far have come on a quicker surface, but I am hopeful that he will cope with softer conditions at Chantilly as his half-brother Blair House handles cut in the ground. ‘He should be suited by the course at Chantilly and I have been very happy with his preparation.’