Latest news with #Gosden
The Herald Scotland
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Almaqam makes most of Brigadier Gerard opportunity
Ryan Moore and the previously unbeaten Ombudsman threw down their challenge inside the final-quarter mile, but Almaqam (7-4) never really looked like folding and kept on strongly to triumph by a length and three-quarters from the 5-4 favourite. 'It was a big day for him and my team and myself and we all believe a lot in this horse,' said Walker after once again seeing his star performer thrive in Esher. 'I have not held back how much I think of him and you could tee yourself up for a big fall. We skipped a couple of Group Ones last weekend to come here and get the job done and back winning and thank god he did. 'He has got a great attitude and funnily enough last year we had him in a lip chain for the prelims and this year we have took it off and he's just asleep and so laid back. 'I think that's what got him beat here last time as he was so relaxed and thought he was on his winter holidays and just flopped out the gates and flopped round and didn't really help Tom Marquand out. 'He's definitely sharpened up for that run at home. I was really worried when I saw the soft ground horses coming out this morning and the good to firm in the description made me nervous. But I walked the track and it's beautiful good ground I think. 'When the Gosden horse loomed up I thought we were cooked, but he's tough and stays well.' Walker was keen to stress the important role ground conditions play for the son of Lope de Vega, with the prospect of quick going making a Royal Ascot tilt at the Prince of Wales's Stakes unlikely. The Lambourn handler is now toying where to head throughout the summer months with his high-class performer, who holds an entry for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October. He added: 'I always thought the Champion Stakes rather than the Arc would be the ideal target, but I stuck him in the Arc because Ryan Moore mentioned last year about a mile and a half and now Oisin (Murphy) has said the same, but he's versatile. 'I think ground is absolutely key and I think it is hard to know exactly what to do with him in the summer, but good ground is as quick as it wants to be. 'The ground would be a worry at Royal Ascot, but he won't need to do a huge amount between now and then so we will keep an eye on it.'
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Epsom tilt ‘unlikely' for Purview with Dermot Weld targeting Irish Derby instead
Dermot Weld is set to target next month's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with Purview and described as 'unlikely' any tilt at Epsom next week with his promising colt. Winner of a Dundalk maiden on his debut in November, Purview reappeared in Leopardstown's Derby Trial over a fortnight ago and ran a very promising second to Delacroix. The colt now heads betting for Saturday week's Derby but Weld is lukewarm on the idea of taking Delacroix on again at Epsom. 'He's still a very big and immature horse and still wants more time, so I would say he is unlikely to go to Epsom. We still have races like the Irish Derby in mind,' Weld said on Tuesday. READ MORE The renowned Curragh trainer also reported that his good filly Swelter will get a break after finishing lame in Sunday's Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas behind Lake Victoria. Swelter lost her unbeaten record when ninth in the weekend classic. 'Unfortunately she was lame post-race. It's nothing serious. She just needs a bit of time off and she'll be back in the autumn,' said Weld. Derby prospects were to the fore on Tuesday morning when the John & Thady Gosden team worked their 'Blue Riband' hopefuls Damysus and Nightwalker at the unique Epsom course. The pair were last seen finishing runner-up and fifth in the Dante at York and Thady Gosden was pleased to give both a 'sighter' of their upcoming challenge. 'It's a very unique track which is impossible to emulate anywhere and just for them to get a feel for it and perhaps get them a few strides quicker in the race can only be a positive thing. 'They both handled it very well. They're very intelligent horses, the pair of them, really taking it in. You could see Damysus pricking his ears coming to the line,' he said. 'They're both talented colts, both have a good turn of foot and both travel well in their races. Also, we know it's a big occasion and it's very easy for it to get to them a little bit but just on the evidence here this morning they seem to handle everything very well,' Gosden added. Wednesday's domestic action is over jumps at Wexford but the smart flat horse Sunchart features in a conditions hurdle. Although not as effective over flights, Andy Slattery's stalwart did record his only win over hurdles at Wexford and any rain will help his chances.
North Wales Chronicle
28-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Damysus and Nightwalker pass muster in Epsom gallop
The pair were last seen finishing runner-up and fifth in the Dante Stakes at York – a race Gosden senior won with Benny The Dip and Golden Horn before landing the premier Classic. Thady Gosden said: 'It's a great thing to do with them when it's quiet, relaxed and not overly stressful. 'It's a very unique track which is impossible to emulate anywhere and just for them to get a feel for it and perhaps get them a few strides quicker in the race can only be a positive thing. 'They both handled it very well. They're very intelligent horses, the pair of them, really taking it in. You could see Damysus (James Doyle) pricking his ears coming to the line. 'They're slightly different types, you would assume, but their first introduction to the place and they've both travelled smoothly through it and when they came to join each other they quicken up nicely over the line.' Of their efforts at York, Gosden said: 'Neither of them had hugely hard races in the Dante, they were both doing their best work late on. 'They're both talented colts, both have a good turn of foot and both travel well in their races. Also, we know it's a big occasion and it's very easy for it to get to them a little bit but just on the evidence here this morning they seem to handle everything very well. 'Of course, with tens of thousands of people here on Derby Day it changes the dynamic slightly, but on the evidence of this morning I couldn't be happier with them.' On the chances of Damysus, Gosden went on: 'James (Doyle) was very happy with him today. He's a horse who's a very laid-back character, but every start this year he's become more alert, woken up and made progress. 'The way he travelled round there this morning, he's done everything James has asked him to do, he's very well balanced and a very together horse and he handled the track great this morning. 'With the Wathnan team we'd earmarked this race for him a while back and planned the route to it which hopefully is going as we'd hoped.' On Nightwalker, who was partnered by Robert Havlin, he added: 'He's always shaped like a horse who would get the mile and a half no problem and of course he's bred to as well, and you'd like to think he'll take another step forward and improve for it. 'He's pretty laid-back. He's obviously a horse that we inherited from Sir Michael Stoute at the end of last year so we were getting to know him early in the year and he really seems to have matured this year.' On which one might hold the best, he said: 'They're both talented colts and I guess we'll have a definitive answer to that in a couple of weeks!'
South Wales Guardian
27-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Damysus and Nightwalker pass muster in Epsom gallop
The pair were last seen finishing runner-up and fifth in the Dante Stakes at York – a race Gosden senior won with Benny The Dip and Golden Horn before landing the premier Classic. Thady Gosden said: 'It's a great thing to do with them when it's quiet, relaxed and not overly stressful. 'It's a very unique track which is impossible to emulate anywhere and just for them to get a feel for it and perhaps get them a few strides quicker in the race can only be a positive thing. 'They both handled it very well. They're very intelligent horses, the pair of them, really taking it in. You could see Damysus (James Doyle) pricking his ears coming to the line. 'They're slightly different types, you would assume, but their first introduction to the place and they've both travelled smoothly through it and when they came to join each other they quicken up nicely over the line.' Of their efforts at York, Gosden said: 'Neither of them had hugely hard races in the Dante, they were both doing their best work late on. 'They're both talented colts, both have a good turn of foot and both travel well in their races. Also, we know it's a big occasion and it's very easy for it to get to them a little bit but just on the evidence here this morning they seem to handle everything very well. 'Of course, with tens of thousands of people here on Derby Day it changes the dynamic slightly, but on the evidence of this morning I couldn't be happier with them.' On the chances of Damysus, Gosden went on: 'James (Doyle) was very happy with him today. He's a horse who's a very laid-back character, but every start this year he's become more alert, woken up and made progress. 'The way he travelled round there this morning, he's done everything James has asked him to do, he's very well balanced and a very together horse and he handled the track great this morning. 'With the Wathnan team we'd earmarked this race for him a while back and planned the route to it which hopefully is going as we'd hoped.' On Nightwalker, who was partnered by Robert Havlin, he added: 'He's always shaped like a horse who would get the mile and a half no problem and of course he's bred to as well, and you'd like to think he'll take another step forward and improve for it. 'He's pretty laid-back. He's obviously a horse that we inherited from Sir Michael Stoute at the end of last year so we were getting to know him early in the year and he really seems to have matured this year.' On which one might hold the best, he said: 'They're both talented colts and I guess we'll have a definitive answer to that in a couple of weeks!'
Leader Live
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Damysus and Nightwalker pass muster in Epsom gallop
The pair were last seen finishing runner-up and fifth in the Dante Stakes at York – a race Gosden senior won with Benny The Dip and Golden Horn before landing the premier Classic. Thady Gosden said: 'It's a great thing to do with them when it's quiet, relaxed and not overly stressful. 'It's a very unique track which is impossible to emulate anywhere and just for them to get a feel for it and perhaps get them a few strides quicker in the race can only be a positive thing. 'They both handled it very well. They're very intelligent horses, the pair of them, really taking it in. You could see Damysus (James Doyle) pricking his ears coming to the line. 'They're slightly different types, you would assume, but their first introduction to the place and they've both travelled smoothly through it and when they came to join each other they quicken up nicely over the line.' Of their efforts at York, Gosden said: 'Neither of them had hugely hard races in the Dante, they were both doing their best work late on. 'They're both talented colts, both have a good turn of foot and both travel well in their races. Also, we know it's a big occasion and it's very easy for it to get to them a little bit but just on the evidence here this morning they seem to handle everything very well. 'Of course, with tens of thousands of people here on Derby Day it changes the dynamic slightly, but on the evidence of this morning I couldn't be happier with them.' On the chances of Damysus, Gosden went on: 'James (Doyle) was very happy with him today. He's a horse who's a very laid-back character, but every start this year he's become more alert, woken up and made progress. 'The way he travelled round there this morning, he's done everything James has asked him to do, he's very well balanced and a very together horse and he handled the track great this morning. 'With the Wathnan team we'd earmarked this race for him a while back and planned the route to it which hopefully is going as we'd hoped.' On Nightwalker, who was partnered by Robert Havlin, he added: 'He's always shaped like a horse who would get the mile and a half no problem and of course he's bred to as well, and you'd like to think he'll take another step forward and improve for it. 'He's pretty laid-back. He's obviously a horse that we inherited from Sir Michael Stoute at the end of last year so we were getting to know him early in the year and he really seems to have matured this year.' On which one might hold the best, he said: 'They're both talented colts and I guess we'll have a definitive answer to that in a couple of weeks!'
