Frederick Engels could head to France on Sunday week as he bids to gain compensation for his luckless run in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
David Brown’s juvenile made his Group One debut in Ireland and looked to have outstanding claims following victories in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and in Newmarket’s July Stakes.
All appeared to be going well until the halfway stage when Frederick Engels and Johnny Murtagh were badly hampered, effectively losing all chance of victory.
Once Murtagh got his mount back on an even keel he fairly rattled home, but it was all too late in the day and he passed the post in sixth place.
Brown is in little doubt that his star turn would have been victorious and provided he arrives back at his Yorkshire home safe and sound, the youngster could now contest the Prix Morny at Deauville on August 21.
“The horse appears to be fine this morning. He’s eaten up and it doesn’t seem to have bothered him,” Brown said.
“I was a bit worried about him after what happened but, thankfully, he seems all right.
“Johnny Murtagh is quite positive he would have won and that he’s a Group One horse.
“His idea was to go up the rail and the gap was there when he set out to go. Johnny said he could have gone through but he didn’t want to wake him up so early having got him settled. He just wanted to cruise a bit closer first.
“Johnny is adamant he would have won. He said he felt really good and that he’d come on for his race at Newmarket. I knew he had at home.
“I think with a clear run, once Johnny pushed the button he’d have won very easily.
“Unfortunately that’s racing and we might be changing our plans now.
“I originally thought we’d go to the Curragh and probably wait for the Middle Park or the Dewhurst in October, but the way it worked out, he didn’t have a race.
“He was hardly blowing after the race, so maybe now we’ll go to France for the Prix Morny.
“I know the ground will be on the soft side and that would be fine, but if for some reason it was stupidly soft, we’d probably consider going to York for the Gimcrack.
“Newmarket is eight weeks away yet and if everything is OK over the next few days, then we’ll probably go to France. We want to go and win a Group One before Newmarket and Johnny is hot on going to the Morny.
“It was disappointing what happened on Sunday but as Johnny said, at least we know now that he is a Group One horse.”
PA AAP TURF
