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| Staff Writer |
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Joseph O'Brien holds high hopes for his 2YO Cowardofthecounty, set for Royal Ascot, but he's being patient, aiming for the colt's peak performance later in the season.
Despite the temptation, the Owning Hill trainer chose to hold off on a second race for the speedy youngster, opting to send him to the Coventry Stakes following his debut victory at the Curragh. The son of Kodi Bear put on a remarkable display, triumphing over the well-regarded Whistlejacket, who went on to win a Listed race, further validating the form.
“Cowardofthecounty is going to go straight to the Coventry,” said O’Brien. “That was the plan after his debut as he’s a big horse and we wanted to give him some time after. We gave him a little break, he’ll then come back and go straight to Ascot.
“He was my second colt to run so you really don’t know (how good they are) but when the horse (Midnight Strike) won the first race we knew as they’d both been working nicely and we thought he was a smart colt as well.
“I didn’t expect him to win like he did and the second horse (Whistlejacket) now looks very good as well. The second may be a Norfolk horse rather than a Coventry horse but he looks very good and our lad was really strong on the sectionals. They were a long way clear of the third.
“Just watching the race you could see he ran right through the line so I’d say he put a lot into it so we wanted to give him time to recover. It’s so early in the season, we want him running a career-best in September so to keep going to the well now makes no sense. We’ll play the long game.
“Ascot is so early, even for a two-year-old, but it’s so important. That’s where the world is watching so that is where we have to compete.”
Clive Cox is eagerly anticipating the trip to Royal Ascot with Diligent Harry following his narrow miss in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes. The 6YO is a familiar presence at Cox’s Beechwood Stables and has arguably been in top form this season, securing two victories on the all-weather track earlier in the year.
He also showcased his ability among elite sprinters by finishing third in Meydan’s Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night. Although he came close to his first turf win at York last week, Cox is far from disheartened.
He is actually encouraged by the gelding’s recent performances as he gears up to compete in the King Charles III Stakes, opting for the minimum trip on the opening day of the Royal meeting.
“He was so near and yet so far and didn’t do a whole lot wrong,” said Cox.
“It was probably a career-best really and I’m pleased to say he has come out of the race really well.
“We are very much looking forward to the King Charles III at Royal Ascot and that would be our preferred trip on a stiffer track at Ascot.
“He’s very versatile and I’m so proud he’s holding his form so well at the highest level. I think it was his best effort yet at York and we’re looking forward to Ascot.”
Passenger aims to secure trainer Sir Michael Stoute's fifth victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, following a successful return to action at Chester.
After winning the Wood Ditton at Newmarket on his racecourse debut last spring, the son of Ulysses finished third in the Dante at York and had a disappointing run at the Derby at Epsom.
However, after a mid-season break, Passenger demonstrated his true potential by winning the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor in late August and then followed up with a victory in the Huxley Stakes at Chester’s May Festival. Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Stables Ireland, expressed great satisfaction with Passenger's performance at Chester, noting that it was a track record and couldn’t have been any better.
“He’s lightly-raced for a four-year-old after just five starts and the plan is to go for the Prince of Wales’s, all being well.
“He ran in the Derby last year and now he is much more mature and we’ll find out more at Royal Ascot.”