Roger Teal's Dance Gemini has the option to commence his campaign in either the French or the English 2000 Guineas.
The young Camelot colt had a successful start to his racing career, triumphing in a maiden race at Newbury and later securing victory in the prestigious Listed Flying Scotsman at Doncaster. He later advanced to Group One level to compete in the Kameko Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, a one-mile race held in October on challenging ground.
He secured a fifth-place finish while Charlie's Appleby's Ancient Wisdom claimed the top spot. Trainer Teal has found the silver lining in this race, as Dancing Gemini gained valuable experience in preparation for his upcoming three-year-old campaign.
"The track conditions were favourable when we emerged victorious in the Listed race, but they were significantly worse when we competed in the Group One," he remarked. It's possible that we made the decision to commit him too early, and then there was the horse that became agitated in the stalls, causing a delay since they had all already been loaded. He likely expended some nervous energy, but he performed admirably in those challenging conditions.
Teal is delighted with the colt's progress during the winter and is targeting either the French or English Guineas as his first race of the season.
"He has performed admirably, showing significant progress. We are extremely pleased with his efforts," he remarked. "He's entered in both the French and English Guineas, so that's our target." We'll decide which option we'll choose closer to the date. He comes from a lineage of a Derby champion and has a mother who is from Australia, indicating that he has the genetic potential to excel in longer races. Hopefully, he performs admirably in the Guineas, allowing us to envision a bright future. Last year, he experienced some challenges with his growth, but he has since stabilised and reached a more balanced state.
He has performed admirably, and we are incredibly pleased with his performance. He's not a giant horse, but he possesses a pleasing physique, displaying athleticism and grace. He's like a Camelot, constantly labelling them as attractive horses.