Queen's horse favourite in Derby

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  • xman
    Admin
    • Sep 2006
    • 24007

    Queen's horse favourite in Derby

    3 June 2011 Last updated at 21:21 ET The Queen's horse, Carlton House, will line up as the favourite for the Epsom Derby later after being declared fit following a late injury scare.

    Doubts arose over the fitness of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt after he developed swelling in a leg.

    He showed no ill-effects following an easy canter on Friday morning.

    The Queen has had nine runners in the race but this will be her first since Church Parade finished fifth behind Shergar 30 years ago.

    She came closest to winning in 1953 when Aureole was second.

    John Warren, racing manager for the Queen, said: "He's done a nice couple of canters and a bit of light work.

    "Ryan (Moore) has ridden him and we're all on for tomorrow."

    After winning the Dante Stakes at York in May, the horse was found to have a problem after a routine canter on Tuesday.

    'Excitement of event' Warren had earlier compared the injury Carlton House suffered to the ankle strain suffered by British tennis star Andy Murray at the French Open.

    "While Andy pulled up when he rolled his ankle, the horse has never actually been lame. It's quite a good analogy," said Warren.

    "However, the horse cannot put his leg up for rest like a human being, so is much more vulnerable."

    He said both the Queen and the public had been kept well informed over the horse's progress.

    "We understand how big the betting side of it is and hopefully everyone is all the wiser about what is going on.

    "Obviously the Queen has been through this and the trainer has been through injuries just before a race as well, so it's not new territory, but it's territory that one would prefer to do without, to be honest.

    "I think now the emphasis has moved away from the issue and into the excitement of the event.

    "Owning racehorses and breeding racehorses is really what this is all about and Epsom is the pinnacle of all of that."





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