Animal Kingdom and Toby’s Corner work in tandem for Graham Motion
Graham Motion has finally caught the drift, and as a result has put his barn in motion by sending couple of his trainee’s out on the track to stretch their legs and prepare ahead of what seems to be a tough season for his runners.
Star of the barn, the 2011 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, has been on a couple of test runs after recovering from his career threatening injury that he incurred in the last year’s Belmont Stakes, and since then the newly turned 4-year-old colt hasn’t run a single race.
Team Valor International’s, Animal Kingdom, finished second in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes which propelled him to be one of the finalists for the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old champion male of 2011.
The Kentucky bred son of Leroidesanimaux, out of mare Dalicia by Acatenango, Animal Kingdom will get his 2012 campaign going with a start in the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan on 31 March, 2012.
Motion sent Animal Kingdom at Fair Hill Training Center at Maryland on 8 January, 2012, to work in company with the Florida bred son of Bellamy Road, out of mare Brandon’s Ride by Mister Frisky, Toby’s Corner.
Both colts ran over the first dirt track, and were clocked in 50 2/5 seconds, according to Equibase. The work pleased trainer Graham Motion, and he would be keeping his fingers crossed to evade any mishaps especially when Animal Kingdom is in the picture for the World Cup.
It is yet to be seen how things will unravel for the Dianne D. Cotter owned, Toby’s Corner, who capped off his 2011 season way too early, with a win in the Grade 1 Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial.
The colt is pointed toward the Grade 2 GP Sprint Championship, which is to be held at Gulfstream Park on 18 February, 2012, over a distance of 7 furlongs.
If he comes out of the race fine, Graham Motion might be tempted to run Toby’s Corner in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup, alongside his stable mate, Animal Kingdom.
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