Stoute waits on Workforce target

Michael Stoute is refusing to rush into making a plan for record-breaking Derby winner Workforce.

On only his third start, the King’s Best colt broke Lammtarra’s 15-year-old track record for the Classic on a sweltering day at Epsom.

The Irish Derby at the Curragh and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot are the likely options for his next start, but five-time Derby winning handler Stoute says no decision will be made until next week at the earliest.

“It was a great day, a great thrill and the team thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Stoute.

“I was a little bit concerned about his lack of experience after his preparatory race didn’t go according to plan, but he’d pleased us subsequently and we thought he would run very well but I didn’t expect a performance of that magnitude.

“Ryan (Moore) came in after York and said ’don’t be disappointed’ because the bit went right through his mouth and he couldn’t give him the assistance that he needed.

“I suppose on the face of it it was a better Derby performance than Sea The Stars, but it doesn’t make him a better horse and Sea The Stars actually won the Derby very comfortably.

“All my Derby winners stand out, it’s a wonderful race and it’s a wonderful day and it’s great to win it.

“We’ve decided to not even consider the next move until well into next week, we’ll monitor him and try to determine how he has recovered from his race so plans are on hold.

“It’s so far so good but it is early days,” he told At The Races.