Camacho excited about unleashing fast and fiery Judicial at the Curragh

In-form Julie Camacho will take the next step this weekend with Judicial, the progressive sprinter who is too explosive to work at home but but has been a revelation on the track.

She is eyeing the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday with the Elite Racing Club’s six-year-old, who made his Pattern-race breakthrough in the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown on Coral-Eclipse day.

That was the latest of eight victories for Judicial since he moved from Roger Charlton to Camacho's Malton base in 2015, in the hope the change of scenery could solve his behaviour problems.

The staff, notably groom Nicola Scathard, have worked hard on settling him and the trainer said: "We never work him. He’s never worked since we had him, we didn’t want to wind him up."

Husband and partner Steve Brown added: "Roger Charlton’s one bit of advice was never put him upsides a horse. He gets fit by following horses. Two horses will be working in front of him and he’ll jump off ten lengths behind and breeze towards them.

"His preparation for Sandown was breezing up behind Burtonwood, who won a Class 6 on the Wednesday – though we did fancy Burtonwood!"

With 16 winners already on the board this year, Camacho is just one short of matching last season’s personal best tally at the 30-strong yard, where she took over the licence from her father Maurice in 1998.

Judicial (Paul Mulrennan) wins the Group 3 Coral Charge from Muthmir (Jim Crowley, nearside) and Mirza (Fran Berry)Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Looking ahead to the Curragh, Brown said: "We’re really pleased with Judicial, he’s bounced out of his run at Sandown very well. We were thrilled with him. He’d run close in the Palace House, which was a thrill in itself, but to go one better in a Group 3 was terrific.

“With a horse of this calibre we have to look further afield. It’s the logical step as there are no more Group 3s in the near future, and it’s a race where the top guns don’t quite seem to go."

Sapphire Stakes card

Camacho added: "It’s the first time we’ve taken him overnight and that will be the next question, but he’s settled at home so hopefully he’ll be fine."

The five-furlong specialist could have an assignment closer to home after his trip to Ireland as he holds an entry in the Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe just 20 miles from Malton at York.

Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes entries and odds

"He might take it up if he’s well," said Brown. "The Nunthorpe is very local to us. We’re probably a few pounds short of being good enough but the one thing I’ll say for this horse is that he won at Sandown in spite of things – the harder they go the happier this horse is.

"I’d love to see this horse in a top-class race where they go really hard from the gun."

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