Ecomium misses York meeting
Derby hope Ecomium, who lost his maiden tag at the first time of asking when coasting to success at Newmarket last month, is to miss his planned engagement at York’s Dante meeting.
The Sadler’s Wells colt was due to contest the Michael Seeley Memorial Glasgow Stakes next Thursday, but has met with a minor setback.
“I’ve decided that he will not participate in the Glasgow Stakes next week,” trainer Jeremy Noseda told his website, www.jeremynoseda.co.uk
“However, he is going to have the next four or five days on the easy list and then he will resume training with a possible target being a mile-and-a-quarter Listed race at Newmarket on May 22.
“At this stage, I’m hopeful the setback will not have a bearing on future plans for the horse. Having been involved with a Derby candidate in a similar situation nine years ago (Lammtarra), I believe that anything is possible.”
Meanwhile, Punctilious, one of Godolphin’s leading hopes for the Vodafone Oaks, is due to make her reappearance in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes next Tuesday.
The filly finished third behind Cairns and 1000 Guineas runner-up Sundrop in a private trial at Nad Al Sheba last month.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, said: “Punctilious is on target for the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.
“We had been considering the 1000 Guineas for her but the longer trip (an extended mile and a quarter) of the Musidora will suit her better.”
On her last visit to a racecourse Punctilious finished third, a length behind the winner Red Bloom, in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile at Ascot in September. She is a general 14-1 chance for the Epsom Classic.
On the same day, local trainer Bryan Smart intends running Monsieur Bond in the £100,000 (€148,000) Duke Of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes.
The four-year-old won a seven-furlong Group Three contest at the Curragh last month by seven lengths under Fergal Lynch to book his ticket for York.
Smart said: “I thought he would win at the Curragh, but I didn’t think that he would win that easily. He was very impressive. To win a Group Three by seven lengths takes a bit of doing and I don’t care what he beat.
“He’s come on for that outing and I’m not worried about dropping back to six furlongs at York. He handles softish ground as he showed in Ireland and the horse is in good order. He’s been trained for the race.
“I don’t think his performance at the Curragh was far off a Group Two performance and I shall enter him in a couple of Group Ones, probably the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock and the July Cup at Newmarket.”
