A potential showdown between next year's 2000 Guineas and Derby favourites is set for the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York next week, with Ruling Court and The Lion In Winter both entered for the Group Three race.
Ruling Court, a €2,300,000 Justify colt trained by Charlie Appleby, impressed on debut with a five-length victory at Sandown and is already priced at 8-1 for the Guineas. Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter, a Sea The Stars colt who won by over two lengths at the Curragh, is listed at 10-1 for the Derby.
O’Brien noted on Racing TV: “He received a very good rating and Wayne Lordan, who rode him, was very impressed. We have an eye on the Goffs Million, and this race would be a good stepping stone.”
The Acomb Stakes has attracted 20 entries, including Hugo Palmer’s Wolf Of Badenoch, Johnson Houghton’s Billboard Star, and Andrew Balding’s Jouncy and Royal Playwright.
O’Brien has also supplemented Irish Derby winner Los Angeles for the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur. Los Angeles will carry a penalty and could face stablemates Illinois, Chief Little Rock, Euphoric, and The Equator.
Deira Mile, who finished fourth in the Derby for Owen Burrows, is targeting this race, while King’s Gambit returns to his age group after a close contest with Alflaila. William Haggas’ Space Legend, who was disappointing in the Bahrain Trophy, completes the list of eight entries.