Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will round out the 2023 season in the G1 Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend, confirmed Wathnan Racing's Richard Brown. Sixth in the G1 Goodwood Cup on Aug. 1, the 4-year-old found only Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) too good last time out in York's G2 Lonsdale Cup on Aug. 25.
“I thought he probably ran right up to form, as John [Gosden] said afterwards carrying the three pound penalty [for his Gold Cup win] is tough over that trip,” said Brown. “We were delighted with the run because it sort of showed that Ascot wasn't a fluke. We hoped it wasn't and Coltrane is a very good horse on his day–they're the best stayers around really.”
“Our horse was strong at the line, we know he gets two and a half miles obviously, and I'd say that the Cadran will be his next target.”
According to Brown, soft ground at ParisLongchamp remains a slight concern.
“I would be a bit worried about a bit of soft ground. You never know really until you try it, I think he'll be OK but you never know,” he said. “After the Cadran that will be it for him this year as everything is geared around trying to win a second Gold Cup.”
Fellow Wathnan runner Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), who was purchased by the operation following a second-place effort in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. on Aug. 3, held the same spot once again last time in the Aug. 23 G3 Acomb S. at York.
“I was actually delighted. He obviously bumped into one at Goodwood and I'd say there's a fair chance he's just bumped into another good one at York,” said Brown of the Adrian Paul Keatley trainee.
“He ran well, possibly he'd prefer soft ground and also he was a breeze-up horse who has had some quick runs. We're going to give him a bit of a rest and give him just one more run this year, I would say. He's shown he's a group level colt and I think he'll only be better next year as well as he's still relatively unfurnished.”
Brown also indicated that stable runner multiple group winner Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is likely for a break as well following a fourth behind winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the Aug. 26 G2 City of York S.
Earlier this spring, he was runner-up in the G1 French 2000 Guineas in May, subsequently fourth in the June 10 G1 St James's Palace S. before finishing second to Kinross in Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. Aug. 1.
“It's the quickest we've run him back [between the Lennox and the City of York] and I wonder if he was a touch flat,” Brown surmised. “Kinross is a brilliant horse, and we were a bit farther behind him than we were at Goodwood, which I suppose makes you think he was just a touch flat.”
He concluded, “We haven't made any plans for him. Myself, Brian [Meehan] and Olly Tait will sit down and do that in a couple of weeks, but I'd imagine we'll give him a six-week break now and give him one more run somewhere.”
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