PartialLogo
News

Oaks winner Anapurna set for a break as connections rule out Curragh bid

Anapurna (white cap) strikes in the Oaks at Epsom on Friday
Anapurna (white cap) strikes in the Oaks at Epsom on FridayCredit: Mark Cranham

Classic-winning owner Mark Weinfeld said Anapurna would skip the Irish Oaks and be given plenty of time to recover from her hard-fought heroics under Frankie Dettori at Epsom.

The owner-breeder, who parted with £85,000 to add Derby last Telecaster to the field last week, would have to spend €40,000 for the daughter of Frankel to run in the Kerrygold-sponsored Classic at the Curragh on July 20.

Speaking on Tuesday, Weinfeld said: "I don't think we're going to [go for the Irish Oaks]. She had quite a hard race and John [Gosden] is quite keen on giving her a break and an autumn campaign."

With all that has happened with Telecaster and Anapurna it has certainly been a whirlwind few weeks for Weinfeld, who was able to take time to reflect on the Derby meeting, and Anapurna's tenacious victory.

"It did go by in bit of a blur," Weinfeld said. "Friday was absolutely fabulous and Saturday was disappointing as you can imagine."

The filly's triumph was the latest high-profile result for Weinfeld's Meon Valley Stud.

Mark Weinfeld: 'John trained Anapurna to perfection'
Mark Weinfeld: 'John trained Anapurna to perfection'Credit: Laura Green

"It's so difficult to breed a horse that's good and to keep it intact so it can get to the races," Weinfeld said. "We've come close several times in the Oaks so we're over the moon. We've now got a fabulous mare to come back to stud.

"John trained her to perfection as she was a bit tricky when she was younger. It was a superb ride from Frankie [Dettori] and a great result for the team at the stud as a huge amount of work has gone into it."

Gosden has won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in three of the past four years so Anapurna could not be in better hands for a potential tilt at the Longchamp showstopper, but Weinfeld is unsure whether the race would suit his filly.

"I'm never a great one for taking on colts with fillies," Weinfeld added. "If John twisted my arm and thought it was really the way we should go it might be something else to think about. There's the Prix Royallieu at the Arc meeting which is now a Group 1 and the fillies' and mares' race on Champions Day at Ascot."

For all the highs that Friday bought, Saturday served as a reminder of how sport can shift gears instantly from highs to lows.

Telecaster: will be given a break after his last of 13 in the Derby
Telecaster: will be given a break after his last of 13 in the DerbyCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

The supplemented Telecaster trailed home last of 13 in the Derby, and will now be given time to recover from four quick runs.

Telecaster, carrying the colours of Weinfeld's Castle Down Racing, was a big disappointment coming off the back of a stirring defeat of Too Darn Hot in the Dante.

"I'd started to get a bit twitchy because the more hype there is the more likely you think it's not going to work out," Weinfeld said. "I was always a bit concerned about the 16 days between the trial and the Derby itself.

"We'll give him a bit of a break, regroup and have a think where we go next."

While Anapurna enjoyed a lovely passage under Dettori at Epsom, stablemate Mehdaayih hit all sorts of trouble in the straight and could only manage seventh, beaten six and a quarter lengths by the winner.

Gosden said on Tuesday: "Both fillies have taken the race well and are in good shape this morning. Mehdaayih came back from the Oaks with a few cuts to her legs, which she sustained in among traffic, but she cantered this morning and seems fine."


Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news


David BaxterReporter
David MilnesNewmarket correspondent

Published on 4 June 2019inNews

Last updated 20:50, 4 June 2019

iconCopy