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Lord North is poised to make a strong attempt at securing an extraordinary fourth consecutive victory in the prestigious Gr.1 Dubai Turf. However, his prospects of replicating his previous triumph in the Winter Derby may face obstacles due to alterations in race distance at its new location, Southwell.
It has been almost a year since the 8YO horse won the 1m1f contest in Dubai, beating Danon Beluga with the help of jockey Frankie Dettori. The horse has been out of sight since then, but Dettori might be back in the saddle for the upcoming race.
Lord North, who had his first breeze of 2024 over the weekend, is facing a new challenge in the Group three contest on 24th February. Although the race was originally scheduled at Lingfield's ten furlongs, it has now been extended by an extra furlong at Southwell, which has raised concerns for his joint-trainer John Gosden.
“Lord North went up the Al Bahathri Polytrack for the first this year on Saturday and he looks in good shape," Gosden said. "He had a good turnout at Wood Ditton Stud during the second half of last year, where they did a lovely job with him.
"He’s now back with us and is building up for another crack at the Dubai Turf, which he has won for the past three years.”
Among the five entries for the BetUK-sponsored Winter Derby are Lord North and four other horses trained by John and Thady Gosden.
Gosden said,“Having the Winter Derby over a mile and three isn't a lot of help to Lord North. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds the extra furlong too far, but I'd like to get a run into him if I can and we’ve got a few other entries.
"It’s a shame they don’t have a mile-and-a-quarter start at Southwell but there’s nothing between a mile and a mile and three there because of the bend. Our old horse Enemy won the trial the other day and he has form over further, so we’ll have to see how it pans out.”
Orne, the stablemate of Lord North, is currently setting his sights on the Gr.2 Al Rayyan Mile in Qatar on 17th February. Notably, he was last seen triumphing in the rearranged Gr.3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newmarket in November.
Gosden said, "Orne also worked at the weekend and is pointing at the Group two mile race in Qatar, which we won with Alzahir a year ago. He’s owned by Al Shaqab who are Qataris and like to have runners at their Emir’s Sword meeting.”
Lord North is poised to make a strong attempt at securing an extraordinary fourth consecutive victory in the prestigious Gr.1 Dubai Turf. However, his prospects of replicating his previous triumph in the Winter Derby may face obstacles due to alterations in race distance at its new location, Southwell.
It has been almost a year since the 8YO horse won the 1m1f contest in Dubai, beating Danon Beluga with the help of jockey Frankie Dettori. The horse has been out of sight since then, but Dettori might be back in the saddle for the upcoming race.
Lord North, who had his first breeze of 2024 over the weekend, is facing a new challenge in the Group three contest on 24th February. Although the race was originally scheduled at Lingfield's ten furlongs, it has now been extended by an extra furlong at Southwell, which has raised concerns for his joint-trainer John Gosden.
“Lord North went up the Al Bahathri Polytrack for the first this year on Saturday and he looks in good shape," Gosden said. "He had a good turnout at Wood Ditton Stud during the second half of last year, where they did a lovely job with him.
"He’s now back with us and is building up for another crack at the Dubai Turf, which he has won for the past three years.”
Among the five entries for the BetUK-sponsored Winter Derby are Lord North and four other horses trained by John and Thady Gosden.
Gosden said,“Having the Winter Derby over a mile and three isn't a lot of help to Lord North. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds the extra furlong too far, but I'd like to get a run into him if I can and we’ve got a few other entries.
"It’s a shame they don’t have a mile-and-a-quarter start at Southwell but there’s nothing between a mile and a mile and three there because of the bend. Our old horse Enemy won the trial the other day and he has form over further, so we’ll have to see how it pans out.”
Orne, the stablemate of Lord North, is currently setting his sights on the Gr.2 Al Rayyan Mile in Qatar on 17th February. Notably, he was last seen triumphing in the rearranged Gr.3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newmarket in November.
Gosden said, "Orne also worked at the weekend and is pointing at the Group two mile race in Qatar, which we won with Alzahir a year ago. He’s owned by Al Shaqab who are Qataris and like to have runners at their Emir’s Sword meeting.”