Teddy Grimthorpe hoping St Leger hero Logician can improve again as a four-year-old

The John Gosden-trained colt stretched his unbeaten record to five at Doncaster in September, stylishly accounting for Sir Ron Priestley by two and a quarter lengths under Frankie Dettori.

The grey son of Frankel, who had previously won York’s Great Voltigeur Stakes, suffered a serious infection during the winter, but is reported to have made good progress and was expected to be a major player in the summer’s major middle distance races.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “We’re very excited to run him as a four-year-old.

“Obviously it was Prince Khalid’s decision to keep him in training and it was an important one, because having won the St Leger everyone felt there was more to come from him.

“He had this stomach infection over the winter which was treated, it set him back a bit as it was a serious infection, but he seems fine at the moment and is in light exercise. Whatever happens (with resumption of racing) his season would not have started very early anyway.

“Potentially we are extremely hopeful for him. Just where and what he might do, I think the way he won the St Leger we know he stays a mile and three-quarters and is pretty comfortable at a mile and a half – whether a bit shorter would be in his compass it’s hard to tell at this stage.

“In terms of races one would never know, he would have to show us he was in good enough form and of course the races would have to be available for him, so we may not have a wide choice. He has the potential to be an important horse. Whether he meets Enable or not will be up to Prince Khalid.”

Like Logician, stablemate Enable is also reported to be doing well, with all roads hopefully leading to another crack at an historic third victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.

Grimthorpe, who is also chairman of York Racecourse, said: “It is incredibly difficult to get one horse to run in one race on particular date in the year.

“Obviously that date at ParisLongchamp has been in Enable’s diary for the last three years and also this year as well.

“Everything will be geared towards that particular race for her, but how she gets there is very much in the laps of the gods. All I can say is she is in very good form. She is cantering up Warren Hill most days, she seems happy and has had no issues, so from that point of view we are very content.”

Grimthorpe also reported the Juddmonte team to be happy with the Roger Charlton-trained Quadrilateral, long-time favourite for the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

The fillies’ Classic, which was due to have been staged on the first weekend of May, could be run in June if – and that is the key word – racing is allowed to resume next month.

Grimthorpe said: “She is certainly a strong filly and from that point of view we were looking forward to the 1000 Guineas in May.

“Equally so with all fillies, especially with the summer and everything else, opportunities become fewer and fewer at times and I think to concertina her season it doesn’t necessarily work in her favour.

“The real question is where we might have gone had things gone well in the Guineas. Would she be a mile-and-a-half horse or a mile-and-a-quarter horse? From that point of view those things need to be answered earlier rather than later, because then you can plan the campaign.”

Meanwhile, France Galop reported a “positive and constructive meeting” with French authorities yesterday as it tries to pick its way through the current coronavirus crisis.

Racing has been suspended since March 17, but hope remains that action could resume next month behind closed doors.

Former champion jockey Kevin Darley has paid tribute to Shamardal who he partnered to Group One glory in Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes.

The son of Giant’s Causeway, whose death at the age of 18 was announced last week, was in training with Middleham’s Mark Johnston during his two-year-old days before going on to race under Saeed bin Suroor.

Joe Fanning was in the saddle for his first two career starts, with Darley taking over at Newmarket on October 16, 2004, with the pair accounting for Aidan O’Brien’s Oratorio by a ready two and a half lengths.

Darley remembered: “He was a very athletic horse and wore his heart on his sleeve. His forte was his cruising speed. He went on to be a very good stallion as well.”