Runaway UAE Derby winner Toast Of New York has been paid up as a late entry for the Epsom Derby at a cost of STG8000 ($A14,394) with the Kentucky Derby having been ruled out.
The American-bred three-year-old took a huge step up in class at Meydan following a couple of impressive victories at Wolverhampton and justified trainer Jamie Osborne’s faith with a scintillating display.
Having won on the Wolverhampton Polytrack and the Tapeta in Dubai, a switch to dirt for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3 was a possibility.
However, connections have decided to keep the exciting colt at home for the time being and a trip to Epsom in June is now under serious consideration.
“The Kentucky Derby is definitely out and we have supplemented him for the Derby at Epsom,” Osborne said.
“There is nothing wrong with the horse, we are very satisfied with how he came back from Dubai.
“We just felt piling him on a plane again so soon to take him to another continent and tackle another different surface would be a lot to ask.
“It is by no means a certain plan he will run there, but it makes sense to keep our options open.”
If Toast Of New York is to line up at Epsom on June 7, it seems unlikely he will make a racecourse appearance between now and then.
The one race that is firmly on the youngster’s agenda is the 2015 Dubai World Cup.
“We hope he is a horse with a great future and longer term his aim has to be next year’s Dubai World Cup,” Osborne said.
“I think that can be carved in stone and it is just a case of thinking about what route we take between now and next March.”
