Appleby ‘on the fence' about Shadow Of Light plans
The son of Lope De Vega thrived as a juvenile and claimed top honours when winning both the Middle Park and Dewhurst on the Rowley Mile last autumn.
He was only a length adrift of stablemate Ruling Court in the opening Classic of 2025 but having shown plenty of speed throughout his career, it could be his future is back down in trip, with the colt the general favourite for the six-furlong Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
However, the Moulton Paddocks handler is still to decide in which direction to head at the Royal meeting, with the weekend's Curragh Classic set to prove a handy gauge for Shadow Of Light's connections.
'I'm going to sit on the fence with him, but I'm still quietly confident he'll get the mile,' explained Appleby.
'It's hard to assess and if you go through the speed figures and everything else that went on in the Guineas, it wasn't an end-to-end gallop by any stretch of the imagination. So it was hard to say he gets a mile for certain on the back of that.
'I think we'll just watch the Irish Guineas and see what develops there. I think whatever wins the Irish Guineas will naturally become favourite for the St James's Palace and then we can work out how close we were to them.'
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South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Johnston can afford to dream of what might be to come with Lazy Griff
It was the second time this year the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt has found Aidan O'Brien's new mile-and-a-half star too strong, as the same two horses filled the same positions in the Chester Vase last month. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Lazy Griff – who got off the mark at the third time of asking as a two-year-old at Beverley – cruised around Tatttenham Corner and while his large army of owners will no doubt have been briefly thinking they were about to hit the jackpot, the winner was going away again at the line. Should he head to the Irish Derby next it would likely mean round three with Lambourn, but Johnston also raised the possibility of a return to France for the Grand Prix de Paris. Lazy Griff won a Group Three at Chantilly last year. 'We told as many people as would listen we couldn't understand why he was such a huge price. Lambourn was 13-2 yet this morning we were 100-1! It's safe to say the Chester form held up well,' said Johnston. 'I'm delighted, I'm surprised how well he handled the track because that was always my biggest concern because he's quite a heavy-topped horse and we felt if the ground wasn't as soft as it was he wouldn't be here. 'I said after Chester that Doncaster (St Leger) would be his place, but to run so well leaves us dreaming about the rest of the year. 'I would say it will be the Irish Derby or the Grand Prix de Paris. The Irish Derby would mean going into the lion's den I suppose, but it will be one or the other I would say.' Soumillon partnered Lazy Griff at Chantilly and did not need to be asked twice to ride him in the Derby. 'What a race and I was travelling so well, the whole race I was travelling so well and I was just cruising down the hill,' said Soumillon, who has still to win the premier Classic. 'This kind of track suits him and when I came downhill I was talking Mickael (Barzalona, on Midak) that there was nobody able to follow us, we were cruising. I thought at that point I would be able to win the race two furlongs out, then I took my time to come out, which I don't think was the best option. 'I maybe should have stayed on the rail, but the horse in front was so lazy in the turn I thought he would stop at a point, but he never gave up and went to the end. Rounding the bend I thought 'now I go and we will see' and for two furlongs I thought we will get the winner, but in the end he was too strong. 'I'm so proud of my horse. It's a great run and it's the same form as the Chester Vase. I was very surprised when I saw the odds in the paper this morning at the airport. I thought how can I be so high? For me it was a nice horse with a decent chance and finally he proved it today on the track. 'He would be able to make the German Derby, but I just spoke to the trainer who was asking me if he could go in the St Leger. I think that can also be an option, he stays really well. We'll just see how he comes back from this race.' He added: 'When my agent called me to say I could ride this horse I said 'let's go' straight away. I loved him last year and he did everything I asked. Mr Johnston's horses are really tough and that's what you need and this really feels like a winner to me. I'm so proud of the horse. It's a great result.' Joseph O'Brien was watching his father win the race for an 11th time, but the man who rode two of them, Camelot and Australia (the sire of Lambourn), was close to his own piece of history by saddling Tennessee Stud to finish third. He said: 'I'm very proud of him, it was a serious run and he came home strongly. I'm so pleased for the owners, it's very good to be placed in the Derby and he's an unexposed type from whom there should be plenty more to come.'
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Lambourn fulfils every expectation of Derby hero Lordan
However, the Lordan story does not begin and end within two days in June and when the 43-year-old was unshipped by San Antonio half a mile from home in the 2023 Irish Derby, some may have been forgiven for thinking that would be the end of his Classic dreams. Lordan suffered fractures to his legs and elbow, as well as a nasty laceration to his arm in an incident which left him not only knocked out but spending eight months on the sidelines. Lambourn blitzes the opposition for a brilliant Derby triumph. Yet another for that genius Aidan O'Brien — Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) June 7, 2025 It is often said that loyalty is a two-way street and during his darkest days he knew he could count on Aidan O'Brien. The master of Ballydoyle was ready and waiting to repay one of his most trusted lieutenants for years of service and when the moment came, Lordan delivered a sublime ride to provide O'Brien with a record-extending 11th winner of the premier Classic. 'Racing is a tough game and lots of jockeys get injured and thankfully I had the support of Aidan and everybody at Coolmore to help you get back,' said Lordan. 'I suppose when you are coming back to ride horses like this it gives you an even stronger focus and I was lucky I had such a good job to come back to. 'I never wanted to be negative so always told myself I would be fine even when it was tough. I tried to stay focused and got in the gym and just told myself I would soon be back.' Aidan O'Brien tells press conference host Martin Kelly what it means to win another Derby (Adam Morgan/PA) When riding for O'Brien it is far from picking up scraps once Moore has had his say from the swelling team of Ballydoyle Classic prospects. But for a man who had finished third for O'Brien aboard Japan (2019) and subsequent Irish Derby hero Los Angeles 12 months ago, there was only one colt for him this time around, as O'Brien explained. 'I knew there were two horses Wayne wanted to ride this weekend and once Ryan knew what he was going to ride, Lambourn and Whirl were the ones Wayne wanted,' said O'Brien. 'When I had been going round the yard in the evening the lads were telling me what was going on and I knew who he wanted which made it very easy for me to put him on. 'Wayne said to me coming out of the parade ring this horse is on fire today and that was before the race. He's given him an unbelievable ride and he's a special fellow.' Wayne Lordan with Lambourn after winning the Betfred Derby (John Walton/PA) With Moore and big-race favourite Delacroix only ninth and Irish champion Colin Keane and The Lion In Winter even further adrift, the stage was set for Lordan to steal the show and he had the perfect co-star for what was a spellbinding display in what is arguably still the biggest race of them all. 'He was the first string for me anyway, so I was happy,' explained Lordan. 'When you're getting into racing, this is the race you always want to ride in. I'm lucky that I work for Aidan and get to ride good horses and get opportunities. 'I've run well in the Derby before and lost nothing in defeat, but I'm just glad today it worked out. 'I was happy once I passed the line, but there is always horses flying home here and yesterday I was thought I was going well then Ryan passed me in the last 50 yards. 'I knew the ones coming to get me would have to stay well and there was always chance they would, but thankfully my horse is a tough, genuine horse.' Wayne Lordan and Aidan O'Brien with the Betfred Derby trophy (John Walton/PA) After eight years of working for an operation created to thrive at Epsom in early June, Lordan's winning ride was one perhaps honed to perfection at the Ballydoyle training centre of excellence. Now he has his name etched forever on the long and distinguished roll of honour of the blue riband. O'Brien explained: 'Everything at Ballydoyle is about Epsom and this is how the thoroughbred breed is assessed every year. 'Everything at Ballydoyle is left-handed and every piece of work they do they practice going round our Tattenham Corner, even the sprinters. 'It's the ultimate test really and it has to be that. It's great for Wayne to win the Derby, he's a massive part of our team and he rides so many of our big horses in work. 'He's in every day and it's a privilege to have him. He's so straightforward and such a team player, but he can be ruthless when he has to be and he's strong and determined.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Johnston can afford to dream of what might be to come with Lazy Griff
It was the second time this year the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt has found Aidan O'Brien's new mile-and-a-half star too strong, as the same two horses filled the same positions in the Chester Vase last month. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Lazy Griff – who got off the mark at the third time of asking as a two-year-old at Beverley – cruised around Tatttenham Corner and while his large army of owners will no doubt have been briefly thinking they were about to hit the jackpot, the winner was going away again at the line. Should he head to the Irish Derby next it would likely mean round three with Lambourn, but Johnston also raised the possibility of a return to France for the Grand Prix de Paris. Lazy Griff won a Group Three at Chantilly last year. 'We told as many people as would listen we couldn't understand why he was such a huge price. Lambourn was 13-2 yet this morning we were 100-1! It's safe to say the Chester form held up well,' said Johnston. 'I'm delighted, I'm surprised how well he handled the track because that was always my biggest concern because he's quite a heavy-topped horse and we felt if the ground wasn't as soft as it was he wouldn't be here. 'I said after Chester that Doncaster (St Leger) would be his place, but to run so well leaves us dreaming about the rest of the year. 'I would say it will be the Irish Derby or the Grand Prix de Paris. The Irish Derby would mean going into the lion's den I suppose, but it will be one or the other I would say.' Soumillon partnered Lazy Griff at Chantilly and did not need to be asked twice to ride him in the Derby. 'What a race and I was travelling so well, the whole race I was travelling so well and I was just cruising down the hill,' said Soumillon, who has still to win the premier Classic. 'This kind of track suits him and when I came downhill I was talking Mickael (Barzalona, on Midak) that there was nobody able to follow us, we were cruising. I thought at that point I would be able to win the race two furlongs out, then I took my time to come out, which I don't think was the best option. 'I maybe should have stayed on the rail, but the horse in front was so lazy in the turn I thought he would stop at a point, but he never gave up and went to the end. Rounding the bend I thought 'now I go and we will see' and for two furlongs I thought we will get the winner, but in the end he was too strong. 'I'm so proud of my horse. It's a great run and it's the same form as the Chester Vase. I was very surprised when I saw the odds in the paper this morning at the airport. I thought how can I be so high? For me it was a nice horse with a decent chance and finally he proved it today on the track. 'He would be able to make the German Derby, but I just spoke to the trainer who was asking me if he could go in the St Leger. I think that can also be an option, he stays really well. We'll just see how he comes back from this race.' He added: 'When my agent called me to say I could ride this horse I said 'let's go' straight away. I loved him last year and he did everything I asked. Mr Johnston's horses are really tough and that's what you need and this really feels like a winner to me. I'm so proud of the horse. It's a great result.' Joseph O'Brien was watching his father win the race for an 11th time, but the man who rode two of them, Camelot and Australia (the sire of Lambourn), was close to his own piece of history by saddling Tennessee Stud to finish third. He said: 'I'm very proud of him, it was a serious run and he came home strongly. I'm so pleased for the owners, it's very good to be placed in the Derby and he's an unexposed type from whom there should be plenty more to come.'
