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| Staff Writer |
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Clive Cox is planning an ambitious 2025 campaign for his star colt Ghostwriter, beginning with the Dubai Turf at Meydan on April 5.
The son of Invincible Spirit showed tremendous promise as a juvenile in 2023 and, despite not winning during his Classic season, produced several outstanding performances in defeat. These included placed efforts behind City Of Troy in both the Gr.1 Eclipse at Sandown and the Gr.1 Juddmonte International at York.
Last seen finishing within two lengths of Economics in the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September, Ghostwriter is reported to be thriving ahead of his Meydan assignment.
Cox said on Wednesday's Nick Luck Daily Podcast: "We're very pleased, he's done well over the winter. He was an amazing performer last year and locked horns with City Of Troy on more than one occasion, but equipped himself very well.
"We are in the nine-furlong race in Dubai (Dubai Turf) and that's very much our target. We're very pleased at the moment with everything. He was included at the nomination stage for Hong Kong (end of April) as well but Dubai is very much our plan of attack."
Regarding Ghostwriter's chances of securing that elusive first Group One victory, Cox is feeling bullish about his prospects.
"Physical maturity gives me hope. From three to four, that development gives me hope and confidence. He matured mentally throughout the year last season. Mentally, he's made that improvement as well and we've been very pleased.
"We realised last year after the Irish Champion that, we gave him a nice winter break. He was blessed, as were a lot of our horses especially the colts, that the weather last autumn was really kind, up until the beginning of December, and we got a lovely flush of grass as well, so he enjoyed a proper break.
"That was good but we were always intent from the beginning of December that we had this (Dubai) very much in mind and we're happy with the progress so far.
"I think in between (a mile and middle-distances) is a good summing up really. He's out of a Champs Elysees mare and we always felt – which is why we ran him in the French Derby – that he could just stay that little bit further, but he shows plenty of pace as well.
"He's always been a horse that I'd prefer to run him on drier ground, but he coped admirably in the Eclipse at Sandown which was bottomless. And it was very easy in France last year as well so he's extremely versatile. So it's nice to have a horse with Jeff Smith (owner) in good form at this time of year that we can enjoy further progress throughout the year.
"Jeff is a supreme enthusiast who loves his racing and it's just a joy to have a horse of this calibre for him."