Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim's Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), fourth in the G1 Betfred Derby, has emerged from the race in good order and will aim for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on July 2, trainer Jessica Harrington revealed.
A winner of the G3 Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown in May, the bay was a solid fourth in the Blue Riband, and, if all goes well, will be ridden again by Shane Foley. Foley broke his collar bone riding at Gowran Park on Monday evening.
“Sprewell will go to the Irish Derby next,” said Harrington. “Hopefully Shane will be back to ride him by then. Ronan Whelan has won a couple of stakes race for me already this year, or there's Colin Keane [for substitute jockeys]. They are the two most likely jockeys to use at Ascot. We will have a nice team of horses, hopefully.”
Sprewell was stabled at Nicky Henderson's yard, a friend of Harrington's, prior to his Derby attempt.
“He went to Nicky's beforehand and he came out of the race grand, she added. “He just had a nice trot and little canter on Wednesday morning. He looks well and I'm happy enough with him. He's eaten up well and put on weight.”
Derby first and third Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) are also pointing to the Irish Derby.
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