Group 1 winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is still pointing to the G1 Cazoo Derby over 1 1/2 miles on June 5, according to connections. The colt, who won the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 10 furlongs last term, ran fifth in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York in mid-May. The bay also scooped the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at two.
Charlie Johnston, son and assistant trainer to father Mark, said, “Gear Up is still Epsom bound. Although he is a 33-1 shot, I think, he deserves his place in the line-up as a Group 1-winning 2-year-old and it would be no surprise to see him finish in the money.
“I don't think he needs that kind of severe testing ground on which he won his Group 1 on last season, it is more the fact it inconveniences other horses. The extra test of stamina here will suit him as we expect him to be a strong stayer at a mile and a half.”
Regarding the colt's performance in the Dante, Johnston added, “I thought it was one of those runs in the Dante at York that was not a bad run but it was not a particularly good run–it was just okay.
“I thought he was in a reasonably good pitch and I would have not swapped him three furlongs out. I thought of those chasing the leaders he looked the most likely at that point.
“The eventual first and second had another gear than him from two out and he plugged on one pace at the finish. He is sure to be better over an extra two furlongs.”
Noon Star Hoping to Shine Bright in Oaks
Another Classic aspirant who is sure to enjoy 1 ½ miles is Juddmonte's Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}), who is on target for the G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 4. From four starts to date, the daughter of MG1SW and Oaks bridesmaid Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) has a win over 8 ½ furlongs at Nottingham last October after running third on debut at Salisbury the month prior. At three, she captured a novice over 10 furlongs at Wetherby in April and ran second in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York on May 12.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Juddmonte, said of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly, “The family are happy for the filly to go for the Oaks, so in principle she will go but the final decision will be made over the weekend. It was a bit of a muddling race at York, but that having being said it was the same for everyone. We would have liked to have seen more pace but it didn't materialise.
“There is plenty of stamina in her pedigree and from that point of view a mile and a half in either the Oaks, and/or G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot should play to her strengths as it were. It was a smart enough race at York and she has come out of it in good shape.”
On the same day as the Oaks, William Muir's Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})) will step out in the G1 Cazoo Coronation Cup S. The 4-year-old colt was second in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket on May 1. As a 3-year-old, Pyledriver saluted the judge in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot and in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. on either side of an unplaced run in the G1 Investec Derby.
“Everything's gone to plan–his work's been great,” said Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick. “He's on target to go where we've said–right from day one, we've said that was his target, so he'll go to Epsom a week on Friday.”
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