Now or never for Wachman
Saturday’s one-mile feature at the Curragh will see last season’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero in action for the first time since he denied Aidan O’Brien’s Achill Island a famous victory in America.
Wachman, who is also set to saddle Great War Eagle in the race, has been delighted with Nownownow since his transfer from the United States.
“I’ve been very happy with him, he’s a nice horse,” said the trainer. “It’s a pleasure to have him to train, he’s a very straightforward horse and he’s been pleasing me at home on the gallops.
“I was hoping to go to Newmarket (for the 2000 Guineas) and he wasn’t quite ready for that but I’m very happy with him at this stage.”
Nownownow dashed O’Brien’s hopes at the Breeders’ Cup, but Wachman knows he will face a stiff task to do it again with Newmarket hero Henrythenavigator representing the Ballydoyle maestro.
The latter edged home from Jim Bolger’s New Approach in a thriller at Headquarters earlier in the month and is set to lock horns with that rival once again.
An optimistic Wachman told At The Races: “You never know in horse racing.
“They are very good horses. It’ll be a good Classic but that’s the way it should be.”
Godolphin endured a disappointing start to the season as Ibn Khaldun flopped when well fancied at Newmarket.
Last season’s Racing Post Trophy winner was sent off at 7-2 but trailed home a disappointing 10th. He will not be given the chance to redeem his reputation on Saturday – despite pleasing in a workout on Wednesday morning.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, said: “We’re not going to run him on Saturday as we’ve just decided to give him a bit more time. We will make a decision around the middle of next week as to what his next target will be.
“He’s entered up just about everywhere and he’s in the Derby but we’re not going to commit him to that at this time. He came out of Newmarket absolutely fine and he worked this morning and went nicely.
“We just want to give him that bit more time as we felt the Guineas was going to come a bit too soon for him on Saturday.”
Dermot Weld’s Famous Name was an impressive winner of a Group Three trial but the trainer is unlikely to risk his charge unless the ground eases ahead of what promises to be a fascinating race.
“I think it’s an outstanding Classic,” the County Kildare handler said. “There are two very high-class colts (Henrythenavigator and New Approach) and there’s also the colt who was supplemented for the race (Stubbs Art). Famous Name is a smart colt but he really needs some nice ease in the ground and unless we get a fair bit of rain, he won’t run.”
