Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dave Yates & Melissa Jones

Godolphin's 2018 star Quorto ready to return but unlikely to make Royal Ascot fixture

Quorto, who missed last season after an unbeaten two-year-old campaign in 2018, is set to return to the racecourse next month.

Godolphin’s son of Dubawi capped his juvenile term with a victory over subsequent Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck in the top-level National Stakes at the Curragh.

The Charlie Appleby trainee was an 8-1 chance for the 2019 2,000 Guineas but was absent for the whole of last year after suffering a soft-tissue injury while training in Dubai during the spring.

“We had contemplated Royal Ascot - to try and work back from a Queen Anne with him but we haven’t had the chance to get a prep run into him,” said Appleby.

“The plan is something like the Summer Mile to get him started and hopefully we will be looking at some Group 1 targets.

Charlie Appleby (Getty)

“He looks great, and he’s training well. He was an exciting two-year-old and, if he can retain that ability, there is a bit of fun there for the autumn.”

Appleby won the first Group One of the Flat season on Friday with Ghaiyyath, who strung his rivals out all over Newmarket in the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup.

The 11/10 favourite set good fractions up front and the pursuers didn't have the gears to go with him as he set sail for home.

Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck eventually closed him down a little, but the winner kept two-and-a-half lengths in hand at the line for a new course record.

William Buick, who takes the reins on hot favourite Pinatubo in tomorrow's Qipco 2,000 Guineas, said on Racing TV: "He's a pleasure to ride and an amazing horse.

"On his day he's a very explosive horse with a great cruising speed.

"This was a deeper field than some of the other races he has encountered and it was a good performance."

Betfair and Paddy Power cut the winner to 8/1 from 12s for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and Coral-Eclipse.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.