The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes is being "considered" for Ghostwriter as connections explore options following his strong performance behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
Trained by Clive Cox, the Invincible Spirit colt has yet to add to his juvenile success this season but has consistently delivered impressive results against top competition. Despite challenging conditions in the French Derby and a third-place finish behind City Of Troy in the Coral Eclipse, Ghostwriter showed his quality on a firmer surface at York.
Although he couldn’t reverse the form with City Of Troy, Ghostwriter ran admirably, securing a podium finish in a race that broke Sea The Stars' course record.
Owned by Jeff Smith, Ghostwriter's team is still weighing their options. However, it seems likely he will stick to 10 furlongs for his next race, making the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown a viable option. City Of Troy, heading for the Breeders' Cup, is expected to skip this race, possibly leading to a less crowded field.
Clive Cox remarked, "We were very pleased with his performance on his preferred ground. It was a fantastic race, and he confirmed that 10 furlongs is his ideal distance right now. We'll assess his condition over the next week and consult with Jeff before deciding our next steps, taking into account the ground and weather conditions."
The Irish Champion Stakes remains under consideration, pending further evaluation of Ghostwriter’s condition and the upcoming weather.