Mofeed to drop back in distance after Derby flop
The John Oxx-trained colt finished fourth of the five runners on Saturday evening, beaten over 18 lengths behind Triple Crown aspirant Camelot.
He was something of a talking horse throughout the winter but a succession of small problems had kept him off the track until the weekend.
“We were not disappointed, we thought he’d need the race, but we thought he might have lasted a bit longer than he did,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah.
“They were atrocious conditions and given it was his first run of the season it was asking a lot of him I suppose, so he probably fared quite well.
“He would go on soft ground but that was something else on Saturday.
“We’ll bring him back to 10 furlongs I’d have thought, but where that will be I will leave to John. I’d imagine it will be either in a Listed race or a Group Three, we’ll see how he goes.
“We won’t wait too long with him, we’ve missed enough, he’ll probably go again in about three weeks.
“It was difficult for him, he had to go on about three out and that seemed to spark Light Heavy up as he looked beaten but got going again.
“He weakened a long way out and it was pretty inconclusive as regards his trip. He’ll get 12 furlongs at some point, either later in the year or next season.
“There’s still a good chance he’s pretty useful.”
Meanwhile Trainer Ken Condon is aiming lightly-raced filly Montebell at the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes at Cork next month.
The daughter of Dylan Thomas only made her racecourse debut in April and has shown plenty of promise in three starts in four weeks.
She was second to subsequent Curragh Cup winner Hartani at Tipperary on her last outing in late May.
Curragh-based Condon said: “Hartani has franked the form and I think he improved an awful lot from that run at Tipperary.
“She had three runs pretty close together so we gave her a little break and she’s back training and cantering away.
“We are hoping to run her in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork on August 5.”
Hoof It is still being aimed at the July Cup despite his slightly disappointing display over seven furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday.
Mick Easterby’s five-year-old could only manage fifth under Frankie Dettori in the seven-furlong Criterion Stakes and has so far been unable to build on a fruitful last campaign.
While tests are being carried out to see if anything was amiss, he still remains in the mix for a return to Headquarters in just under a fortnight.
“His trachea wash and blood have been sent away to check for anything, but Frankie said he pulled so hard for the first three furlongs it would have been nearly impossible for him to win anyway,” said Easterby’s son and assistant, David.
“We’ll stick to the plan and aim him at the July Cup.
“We’ve had an interrupted season, no doubt about it, but that’s horses for you. It’s not been ideal.
“So we’ll aim at the July Cup unless it is not in his best interests.
“I’ve no idea who will ride him. With Newbury, Doncaster and York all on the same day Sheikh Mohammed will decide where Frankie goes and Michael Stoute will decide where Ryan Moore goes, so Michael Easterby might just have to see exactly who’s left.”
