Racing Chatter – R&R Time For Arrogate

Following another amazing weekend of racing, where action close to home was augmented by the Dubai World Cup races at Meydan, here’s what’s been whispered…

Teddy says Arrogate Will Take It Easy

Teddy Grimthorpe (racing manager to the owner) says that Arrogate is going to get a well-deserved break, following his victory in the Dubai World Cup. The American wonder-horse showed his true class, at Meydan, recovering from a poor start to win comfortably.

“It was an extraordinary performance. It was one for the ages, as they say.

“So far, he’s come out of the race fine. He’ll have a break now and aim for the Breeders’ Cup. That will be his main objective.

“Obviously we have to get him back home, see how he is and give him some time to chill and then bring him back with the Breeders’ Cup in mind.”

Fahey To Spare Runner For Ribchester

Ribchester was far from disgraced, when finishing a close 3rd, in Saturday’s Dubai Turf, but trainer Richard Fahey believes his charge can progress further with a little company.

“His problem is that he goes from 0 to 35 mph in four strides at the start of his races.

“He has been doing it all his life. We will see how helpful it is to have a pacemaker in his races.

“For the time being, the plan is to go for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May, and that will determine whether it is then the Queen Anne Stakes, over one mile at Royal Ascot, or the Prince Of Wales, over a mile and a quarter, in the same week.”

Sixties Icon Is The Daddy, For Channon

Czabo, who carried Graham Lee to victory in the Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes at Naas on Sunday, is further proof that Mick Channon’s yard has benefited from the introduction of Sixties Icon as a sire – according to the trainer’s son, Mick junior.

“We took her to Saint-Cloud a few weeks ago, but she was too free for the first half a mile and it was a complete wasted effort. But I just spoke to David Wachman (part-owner) and he said it was a great prep run taking her all the way to Paris.

“She’s done it very nicely, and we had fitness on our side and that helped. We have a fairly moderate band of broodmares but he (Sixties Icon) has improved them all.

“We wanted to get her going early as she had that Esher Cup form early last year in soft ground and ran well in the Guineas.”

Saphir Du Rheu Is Sam’s Selection

Sam Twiston-Davies has revealed that Saphir Du Rheu is his most-likely ride, in the Aintree Grand National, although he stressed that the situation might change as the big race approaches.

“He’s got a bit of class and a nice weight, and considering how he jumped and travelled in the Gold Cup, you’d be looking forward to riding him in the Grand National.

“But it’s a deep race, we’ve still got Vicente in there, he’s got a nice weight and always does well in the spring.

“I imagine I’ll ride Saphir Du Rheu but you never really want to put your flag to the mast until declarations are done and they have both come through their preliminaries.”