Connections of Task Force (GB) are keen to give the colt plenty of time to recover from his run in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, feeling there will be lots to come from their charge later in the year.
The Juddmonte homebred proved himself a smart sprinting two-year-old for the Ralph Beckett yard last season, winning his first two starts before signing off with a runner-up finish behind Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket.
Sent off at 16/1 when returning to the Rowley Mile for the first Classic of the season, Task Force ultimately finished a well-held seventh behind Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's European racing manager, has shared his belief that the race might have come a bit too soon in the development of the impeccably-bred son of Frankel (GB).
“We were disappointed not to win, but we were happy and Rossa [Ryan, jockey] felt he was still a little on the weak side,” said Mahon. “He's a May foal and he only turned three a day or two before the Guineas, so we felt he was a little on the weak side and will improve as the season goes on and he gets stronger. We will just give him a little chance now.
“We trained him hard to get him to the Guineas, so we will give him a chance and let him strengthen and then pick our target in a month or six weeks' time. It was a big task to get him to the Guineas first time up–you have to train them hard enough–and it is for some and not for others. As we saw with the favourite and a few others who may not have run their race, they are no doubt still very good horses and will come back to themselves later in the year.”
Having been campaigned exclusively at six furlongs as a juvenile, Task Force was tackling a mile for the first time in the 2,000 Guineas and it's unlikely to be his last run over that trip according to Mahon.
“He settled and saw it out well enough, so I think the mile was no problem,” Mahon added. “I didn't see anything on Saturday, and Ralph didn't see anything, to suggest the mile is an issue, so I think we are all happy with the distance and it is just a case of getting him a little stronger.”
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