All systems go for Novellist
The four-year-old was a scintillating winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in mid-July under Johnny Murtagh, rocketing him to the top of ante-post lists for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 6. He was given his final prep race forEurope’s premier middle-distance prize in last weekend’s Grosser Preis von Baden and despite pulling for fiercely for his head in a slowly-run affair, he eventually wore down stable companion Seismos to scoreeasily in the hands of Eduardo Pedroza.
Wohler said: “He has come out of the race well. There is nothing to complain about. We knew before the race it was going to be slow and the jockey made the best out of the situation. He will improve for the race, that was always the plan. Although it was a Group One and one of the biggest races inGermany, for him it was a prep race. In the end he did it quite well, the way we expected and now we look forward to Longchamp.”
Wohler confirmed Murtagh will be back on board Novellist in France next month, as has been the plan since his Ascot romp. “I’ve spoken to Johnny since the race and updated him on the horse and everything else. He will be riding him in the Arc,” he said.
