Trainer Dylan Cunha is taking a measured approach following the disappointing performance of his star horse, Prague, at Qipco Champions Day. After being acquired from Aidan O’Brien’s stable for just 10,000 guineas as an unraced three-year-old, the Galileo colt has made significant strides this season, culminating in a dominant win at the Group Two Joel Stakes last month.
However, expectations were dashed during the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot when Prague, positioned wide and racing too keenly, collapsed in performance, finishing a disappointing 11th out of 12 runners. Despite this setback, Cunha reported that Prague returned in good health and remains optimistic about his recovery.
“He came back fine and is in good shape. It was simply an unfortunate race, and we didn’t get the result we were hoping for,” Cunha explained, emphasising the challenges faced during the race.
Looking ahead, Cunha intends to take a few days to reassess before making any decisions about Prague's future. "We haven’t discussed anything yet; we just want to see how he is," he mentioned, recognising that there may not be suitable opportunities left in England this year.
While still processing the disappointment, Cunha remains committed to determining the best path forward, confident that Prague will rebound. "We’ll take it on the chin and move forward," he concluded.