Subjectivist Camp Mulling Gold Cup Outing

Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Mar. 27, is likely to start next in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June. Successful at the highest level in the Prix Royal-Oak last fall, the Dr. Walker colourbearer also saluted in the G3 March S. on Aug. 29 and earlier in the season won the Listed Glasgow S.

“He had a fantastic campaign last year–we always thought of him as a genuine St Leger horse, but that was probably his most disappointing effort through the year,” said trainer Mark Johnston's son Charlie. “We campaigned him quite aggressively last year–he ran in the Gordon, the Voltigeur, the March and then the Leger, so it was a busy summer.

“There is an element to say he's best when he's fresh–but he's also just a bigger, stronger horse this year. Last year you could struggle to keep condition on him, but this year he's taken all the work we have thrown at him. Plan A was Saudi, and we were annoyed he didn't get in there–we couldn't fathom the logic.

“I know Phil Smith framed the staying race as a handicap–and because of weight-for-age, it worked against him. But there were horses running that had been getting beaten in handicaps and went off 50-1, while he'd won a Group 1 on his last start. As soon as he didn't get in, as he was half-ready in early February, Meydan was an opportunity for another big pay day–and it was a fantastic performance.”

Looking forward to the European season Johnston continued, “We've given him a Yorkshire Cup entry–but one of the main attractions to Dubai was that he had no penalty for his Group 1, while he would have in a Sagaro, Henry II or Yorkshire Cup.

“I think Plan A will be to go straight to Ascot, because we've proved we can have him in the form of his life fresh. I think the two he'll definitely go to are Ascot and Goodwood in the summer.

“There's certainly lots to look forward to. He nearly won at Royal Ascot (King George V S., last year), and Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) only just caught him at Goodwood–both of those were over a mile-and-a-half. We always said he would get better with age.”