Search

Prix du Jockey Club assignment for Ghostwriter

The Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter will head to the Prix du Jockey Club following his fourth in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday.

GHOSTWRITER.
GHOSTWRITER. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, Ghostwriter was a stand-out in the paddock prior to the first Classic of the season and ran well to finish fourth under Richard Kingscote. It was not an untroubled passage for the Invincible Spirit colt, having clipped heels leaving the stalls before having to make up ground to sit prominently. He became unbalanced coming out of the dip, and stayed on well to finish four-and-a-half lengths behind Notable Speech.

Out of a twelve furlong winning Champs Elysees mare, Ghostwriter is expected to improve for the step up to ten furlongs for the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on 2 June.

"I don't think there was any doubt we saw a very impressive winner, but I'm very happy he ran very well," said Cox.

"Things didn't go entirely smoothly for him, but it's certainly not a disappointing reflection. He just stumbled coming out of the stalls and also got a bit unbalanced coming into the dip as well.

"He's come out of the race very well and I think as a mile winner at two who has undoubtedly done very well over the winner, I was very pleased with the performance, and I now think he will be helped by going a mile and a quarter at this stage.

"That would be our intention as long as he is fit and well. He's done a very gentle canter this morning and I'm thrilled he has come out of the race really well.

"I hope he will continue his progress and I would say, after speaking with Jeff (Smith, owner) this morning, that the French Derby is going to be our likely target."

Whilst the Dante Stakes is an option for Ghostwriter, Cox is keen for Classic glory.

"York will come soon enough and then the timeframe between the Guineas and the French Derby is probably going to be much more suitable," he added.

"He's a very nice horse and I'm just very pleased he has come out of the race well and we can now look forward to him going a mile and a quarter."


Racing and Sports

today's racing

Error occured
{{disciplineGroup.DisciplineFullText}}
{{course.CountryName || course.Country}}