Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Foundation facing fact-finding mission in Craven Stakes at Newmarket Share this

John Gosden expects to learn more about Foundation's potential targets for the year by running in the Novae Bloodstock Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.
The Zoffany colt was unbeaten after his first three starts as a juvenile, completing his hat-trick with an impressive display in the Royal Lodge over the Rowley Mile in September.
He suffered an odds-on reverse when only third in a slowly-run Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, but remains among the market principals for this year's Investec Derby at Epsom ahead of his seasonal reappearance.
" We're looking forward to running him and he seems very well," said Gosden.
"He's built up through the winter and has been working nicely, but it's still early days and he hasn't been pushed too hard so far.
"I've said for a while I think he will possibly be at his best over a mile and a quarter, but let's wait and see.
"He gives me all the signs he'll be happiest at a mile and a quarter, but we'll start him off over a mile, he's a course-and-distance winner and we'll see how he goes."
Harry Herbert, racing manager for the owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, is keen to find out whether Foundation could be a realistic contender for the 2000 Guineas at the end of the month.
He said: " He's very well and hopefully it will give us a good steer as to what direction we're heading with him.
"He didn't have a race in the Racing Post Trophy. It turned into a bit of a farce and it was agony to watch. It was just an exercise gallop for him.
"I've been away in Australia until earlier this week, but I believe he's been working very well and the Craven looks a solid place to start.
"This should give us a better handle on him and we'll find out whether he's a Guineas horse, or a French Guineas horse or whether we should be going down the Derby route."
Foundation is a warm order to beat five rivals in the Group Three contest, with Gosden having made a flying start to the meeting with a Tuesday treble.
Fellow Newmarket-based trainer Ed Walker will have high hopes for Stormy Antarctic this season.
The handsome chestnut won a Sandown maiden and a Newbury conditions event last term before rounding off his campaign with a narrow defeat behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.
Godolphin representative Very Talented makes his first appearance since impressing in a maiden at Doncaster's St Leger meeting in September.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: " He is doing very well and is working well. I'm very happy with him.
"In his last piece of work he went very nicely and he is improving all the time.
"I'm hoping to see a good run from him."
O'Brien's Shogun and the Richard Hannon-trained pair of Tony Curtis and Steel Of Madrid complete the field.

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