Ryan Moore, twice a winner of the G1 Investec Derby aboard Workforce (GB) (King's Best) in 2010 and Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2013, said he hopes the blue riband, delayed this year because of coronavirus complications, can remain at its historic home at Epsom Downs.
The Jockey Club Racecourses announced earlier this month that its Guineas and Derby Festivals would be postponed indefinitely, and last weekend the British Horseracing Authority revealed that the Guineas' could take place in early June and the Derby and Oaks late June. Whether the second round of Classics can be staged at Epsom will depend upon coronavirus health and safety restrictions.
“It's a tough situation for everyone, we just have to make the best of it and hopefully we'll get everything moving again at some stage,” Moore said on the Betfair Betting Podcast. “I wouldn't like to see the Derby run anywhere else; hopefully we can run the Classics in their rightful places. If the dates have to be moved, then that's the way it will have be, but I very much hope to see Epsom run the Derby.”
Moore rode at select meetings in Hong Kong behind closed doors earlier this season, and shed some light on why that is a process that works in that nation.
“It's very unique in Hong Kong, all the horses are trained in the same location, and the jockeys and trainers live in the same place and so do their staff,” he said. “They put everything into a bubble and have the resources to be testing everyone very regularly and are at a massive advantage for keeping racing going on that way. Behind closed doors isn't ideal, but if that's what has to be done it won't bother anyone riding.
“They're doing it in Australia as well, again though a lot of the horses are trained on the track and it's a very different set up to what we have in the UK, Ireland and France in regards to where horses are stabled and staff live, so we have much bigger hurdles to overcome. I'm sure they are looking at what they are doing in Hong Kong and Australia to keep their shows going, but it's a lot tougher to do that here than it is in Hong Kong. The reality is over there they were a lot more aware of it, they've had to deal with SARS and the like. I think they were a bit ahead of us.”
Moore pointed to last year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Juddmonte International winner Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Guineas hopeful Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) as two mounts he is especially looking forward to when racing resumes.
“I've a lot of time for [Japan],” he said. “He progressed all year, he ran a very good race in the Arc [when fourth]. I felt we just didn't quite get home. It was a thorough test and we possibly moved after Enable a little bit too soon and he just tired in the final furlong. He stays in training and it will be great to have him back on the track again.
G2 Coventry S. winner Arizona rounded off the year with placed efforts behind 2-year-old champion Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 National S. and G1 Dewhurst S. and was fifth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.
“Arizona ran a mighty race in the Dewhurst, Santa Anita was just too sharp him,” Moore said. “Obviously there's a couple of standout horses we'd have to step up to be beating, the likes of Pinatubo and Victor Ludorum maybe, but it's a new year and they change from two three.”
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