Vale of York could pass on the 2000 Guineas, point for Derby instead
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from Racing Post:
BREEDERS' CUP Juvenile winner Vale Of York could return to the United States for Godolphin in the Kentucky Derby, for which he is a general 20-1 chance.
The Godolphin colt, allotted a rating of 118 in the World Throughbred Rankings thatwere unveiled on Tuesday, won the Juvenile at Santa Anita under regular rider Ahmed Ajtebi.
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Vale Of York will possibly be aimed at the Kentucky Derby, depending on how he performs at the new Meydan racecourse and he will start off on the all-weather there."
The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs clashes with the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas - both falling on May 1 - but Vale Of York is not quoted for the Newmarket Classic.
Hearts Of Fire, who provided Pat Eddery with his first Group 1 victory as a trainer when beating Vale Of York by a head in the Gran Criterium at San Siro last October, was confirmed on target to bid for the Guineas.
Derek Shockledge, racing manager to Pat Eddery Racing Ltd, said on Tuesday: "All being well, Hearts Of Fire will go for the Guineas.
"He has only just been brought back and has had a bit of a break since his Group 1 victory."
Hearts Of Fire was allotted a rating of 116 in the World Thoroughbred Rankings, the same mark as Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes third Xtension, whose trainer Clive Cox also pointed the way to Newmarket.
He said on Tuesday: "He's done well and he'll be very much aimed at the Guineas. I am not entirely sure if he'll run beforehand - he's a horse hopefully I could have in top order first time.
"We are delighted to have a horse of this calibre and we trained him last season with the possibility of having plenty of miles left on the clock."
BREEDERS' CUP Juvenile winner Vale Of York could return to the United States for Godolphin in the Kentucky Derby, for which he is a general 20-1 chance.
The Godolphin colt, allotted a rating of 118 in the World Throughbred Rankings thatwere unveiled on Tuesday, won the Juvenile at Santa Anita under regular rider Ahmed Ajtebi.
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Vale Of York will possibly be aimed at the Kentucky Derby, depending on how he performs at the new Meydan racecourse and he will start off on the all-weather there."
The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs clashes with the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas - both falling on May 1 - but Vale Of York is not quoted for the Newmarket Classic.
Hearts Of Fire, who provided Pat Eddery with his first Group 1 victory as a trainer when beating Vale Of York by a head in the Gran Criterium at San Siro last October, was confirmed on target to bid for the Guineas.
Derek Shockledge, racing manager to Pat Eddery Racing Ltd, said on Tuesday: "All being well, Hearts Of Fire will go for the Guineas.
"He has only just been brought back and has had a bit of a break since his Group 1 victory."
Hearts Of Fire was allotted a rating of 116 in the World Thoroughbred Rankings, the same mark as Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes third Xtension, whose trainer Clive Cox also pointed the way to Newmarket.
He said on Tuesday: "He's done well and he'll be very much aimed at the Guineas. I am not entirely sure if he'll run beforehand - he's a horse hopefully I could have in top order first time.
"We are delighted to have a horse of this calibre and we trained him last season with the possibility of having plenty of miles left on the clock."