Listed winner Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) will go to Epsom to test his aptitude for the course during the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning on May 23, Prince Faisal's racing manager Ted Voute revealed. Depending on his results, that will see the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas fourth take his chances in the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4. Alternatively, he will be re-routed to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in France one day later.
Voute said, “He'll go on Monday to Epsom and have a little piece of work down the hill and around the turn and into the straight.
“We'll see how he handles the bend and the camber and then the Prince will have a think about what he wants to do after seeing how balanced he is.”
Voute also had an update on Prince Faisal's globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), and he is targeting the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot. Successful in the G1 Juddmonte International S. in August of 2021, the 2020 Prix du Jockey Club hero was fourth in the G1 QIPCO British Champion S. in the autumn. Defending his Saudi Cup title, the 5-year-old entire faded to last of 14 in Riyadh on Feb. 26.
“I said to the Prince the other day that he'd already won the French Derby and he said 'oh well, I don't mind winning it twice,'” Voute added. “Ascot is where we're heading [with Mishriff]. We're just waiting to see whether we'll be ready for then, but it's pretty much the same agenda as last year and we'll just take it one race at a time.
“I'm not sure I really want to take on Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), but if we're going to be a champion then we've got to.”
Also heading to the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning on Monday are Eydon's fellow Derby contenders Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) as well as Oaks entrant Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
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