Workforce still under the microscope after flop
The record-breaking Derby winner only beat his pacemaker Confront at the weekend and connections of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained King’s Best colt are hoping something comes to light.
“Obviously it was not what we expected or what we were hoping for,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to the owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah.
“Nothing so far has appeared. He is being extensively checked and something somewhere will probably turn up, but we just haven’t put our finger on it yet.
“Going into the race we couldn’t have been happier or more confident, but he was in trouble quite a long way out for such a good horse.”
Meanwhile connections of Harbinger are expecting to make a decision on his next race by the end of the week.
The breathtaking King George winner has the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp as his main aim, but whether he take in another contest before then has still to be decided.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Harry Herbert, for the owners, will therefore meet to discuss options.
“I spoke to Sir Michael this morning and asked him if he had anything to report. There was a magnificent silence and then he said ’he’s fine – why?’ so I took that as good news,” said Herbert.
“The Arc is very much the plan. I’ll have a sit down with Sir Michael later this week and we’ll go through all the options and get a grip on it.
“Sir Michael is a great believer in letting the dust settle after these things, quite rightly, and then planning ahead, but the Arc has to be the move.”
