Waiting game over Carlton House set to continue

IT is, without doubt, one of the toughest decisions of trainer Sir Michael Stoute’s distinguished career: should he risk running the Queen’s heavily-backed Carlton House, subject of a pre-race injury scare, in the Epsom Derby?

The decision was still said to be on a knife-edge last night, ahead of Saturday’s blue riband race, after Her Majesty’s colt – winner of the totesport Dante Stakes at York last month – strained an ankle joint during a workout on Monday.

It is expected that Carlton House’s participation in Saturday’s showpiece will be confirmed today when the 48-hour declarations are announced, though no final decision is expected until tomorrow as Stoute looks for the horse to respond to treatment.

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In equine terms, the injury is mild. But Stoute, and Royal connections, are acutely aware of welfare considerations and these will come before any personal desire on the Queen’s part to land the one Classic to elude her.

She is being kept abreast of developments by her racing manager John Warren who says the Queen is showing typical stoicism following the setback that they had dreaded.

“She was typically philosophical. She said, ‘that’s okay, keep me updated’. I didn’t tell it as doom and gloom,” revealed Warren who had provided the Queen with a telephone commentary by phone when Carlton House won the Dante and became ante-post Derby favourite.

“We’ve got the next few days to see if it (the ankle strain) is cooling itself down – that’s going to be key. The good thing is the horse is sound and he’s moving well.

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“He’s on trotting exercise but, of course, Sir Michael Stoute would love to be getting some good cantering into him at this point.

“Luckily, we’ve got the most experienced trainer in the country and the best rider (Ryan Moore) in the country.

“We’ve got a chance of running. It’s not without a possibility that he’ll stand in the line-up. He won’t run unless the trainer is completely content that he’s sound. By Friday, we’ll know more.”

Carlton House worked over six furlongs on Sunday, and also had a routine canter on Monday, after which the problem was discovered at Stoute’s Newmarket stables.

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The colt underwent X-rays on Tuesday morning, but no serious damage was revealed.

Warren added: “There is no medication allowed into a horse going into a race. All that can be done is to ice him, wrap him, and hose him, and just get the blood circulating into that joint to speed the process up. It’s wait and see for the next 48 hours.”

Meanwhile Kieren Fallon has been urged to play it cool in the Derby by the man who knows well-backed Recital as well as anyone.

Leading French bloodstock agent Gilles Forien bred the highly-strung colt, on behalf of the Renee Geffroy and Caragh umbrella, before he was knocked down to Coolmore for 750,000 euros.

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Many observers feel Recital will be ill at ease competing at Epsom, which is renowned for its unpredictable cambers, after he hung discernibly left when winning the Derrinstown Stud Trial.

Forien does not subscribe to that theory, but feels Fallon needs to be more considered than at Leopardstown when he made a winning move two furlongs from home.

“He is a very strong horse, but I am not worried about his attitude, or his ability – I am worried about how the horse will be ridden,” said Forien. “He should be held up until the last furlong at the very earliest, otherwise I do not think he can win.”

Blue Bunting, the mount of Frankie Dettori, will take on 12 fillies in the Investec Oaks tomorrow.

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Godolphin’s shining light has been the ante-post favourite for the mile-and-a-half Classic since claiming the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Mahmood Al Zarooni’s three-year-old faces stiff opposition from a predictably powerful Aidan O’Brien team, spearheaded by the progressive Wonder Of Wonders.

“Blue Bunting is doing very well and she has improved since her victory at Newmarket,” said Al Zarooni.

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