 |
|
|
|
|
Glorious Goodwood 2012 |
| Tweet |
racing news /
Simenon on Artemis Goodwood Cup Trail
18/07/12
Champion Irish jump trainer Willie Mullins will have his first runner at Goodwood when Simenon lines up in the Group Two Artemis Goodwood Cup, run over two miles on Thursday, August 2, 2012.
 |
The five-year-old completed a rare double at Royal Ascot when winning both the Ascot Stakes and Queen Alexandra Stakes impressively.
Mullins, who attended a Goodwood Racecourse press conference in London today, said: “I was just looking at the map of course as I have never been to Goodwood and it actually resembles my gallop at home, so maybe that will give us the 8lb or 10lb we need.
“We worried about bringing him over to Ascot because when we brought him to Cheltenham earlier in the year we thought he would go very close in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but he finished last.
“I put that down to the travel and things not going his way over there because we would bring a huge team to Cheltenham and it’s very hard to mind every horse how you would want to.
“We changed a few things at Ascot and just sent over with him a driver and Jack, the lad who rides him every day at home. Jack just minded him like a baby which made a huge difference.
“It was lovely to win on the first day as we were hoping and then after having a word with Ryan Moore we decided we would wait at Ascot until Saturday for the Queen Alexandra, which worked out. The race on Saturday was probably run to suit as there was a lot more pace, but I was still amazed with the ease he won with.
“After that we were looking for another race and, after chatting to Ryan (Moore), he said the Artemis Goodwood Cup might be the race.
“Simenon’s Ascot form got a bit of a boost at the weekend as the horse that was second finished placed in a Group Two at Longchamp.
“I’m not to worried about the ground, I am more worried about the travelling over to Goodwood and also the fact we have to improve 10lb or 12lb. However, I’m hoping that he can be competitive and Ryan (Moore) is very keen that we bring the horse over and that says a lot to me.”
