Workforce gallops at Sandown but still no Arc decision
Sir Michael Stoute is one of racing’s great planners. He proved that when he managed to emerge from the wreckage of Workforce’s run in the Dante Stakes to win the Derby just three weeks later.
He is also one of the game’s great poker faces, at times almost revelling in his ability to keep the rest of the world guessing over his next move.
So when did Sir Michael Stoute begin planning his next step with Workforce? Probably just after the colt took his last step past the winning post at Epsom in June, and the long-term target would have been the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the few races to have eluded the trainer since Shergar brought him to racing’s top table nearly 30 years ago.
However, those plans were thrown into disarray when Workforce finished 17 lengths fifth of six to stable companion Harbinger in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. The pleasure of the record-breaking win of Harbinger – whose own racing career was ended by injury just two weeks later – was eroded by the run of Workforce who was, clearly in the mind of Stoute, still a work in progress. “You have to remember that was only his fourth run today and make no mistake - he will bounce back,” Stoute said after the race.
The word for the last month has been that the Arc was the only race that Workforce might run in if he is to race again this season. And the news from the Newmarket gallops in recent weeks was that Workforce had been bouncing back and he took the next step to a run in the Arc, at Longchamp on October 3rd, with a racecourse gallop at Sandown Park this morning. The colt worked for just over a mile, ridden by stable jockey Ryan Moore, accompanied by stable companions Official Style and Confront and Workforce came five lengths clear in the last two furlongs.
Although connections were still not ready to commit to the Arc, there is a pattern forming and that is why the markets reacted in the way that they did, with Workforce’s price for the Arc shortening, as it mirrored when Workforce was taken to Lingfield Park for a gallop less than two weeks before the Derby.
The work itself was nothing greatly significant, although, in typical Stoute style, Workforce was joined by recent Goodwood maiden winner Total Command and a third unidentified stable companion. The gallop was more for educative purposes and Workforce came a couple lengths clear of the unnamed horse. Having addressed the wayward tendencies that Workforce had shown in the Dante, where his awkward head carriage had been one of the main factors for the bit pulling through the horse’s mouth.
Getting a decision straight from the horse’s mouth will not be forthcoming just yet but Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, told the Racing Post: “There is nothing definite [regarding the Arc] but this is another box ticked. It's encouraging.
“Is it a green light? No, it's an amber. Now we have to see him go the right way, check out fine and see how he does. Prince Khalid needs to be confident enough to give the go ahead and that will come from the horse and Sir Michael.”
Chances are that Stoute will not play his hand until close to the final declaration time on Friday week. If Stoute decides to run Workforce it will be because he can play the winning hand.
Tags: