Charlie Johnston is hopeful that both Ancient Egypt and Venetian Lace will be in the shake-up at Epsom Downs next week.
Ancient Egypt, a 1,100,000 guineas purchase, won his first two starts as a juvenile before disappointing in the Royal Lodge on his final start. The Frankel colt returned to Newmarket for a 10 furlong listed race in May and ran out an impressive winner to put himself in the frame for a tilt at the Derby for which he is a 20/1 chance with Paddy Power and Sky Bet.
Johnston brought the AMO Racing colt to Epsom for the Betfred Derby Festival gallops morning and was happy with what he saw on the track.
"He came down last night, stayed overnight in the stables, he's been and had a wonder around the paddock, he's been and had a nice swing around the track so we've dotted every I and crossed every t in terms of preparation and nice for David [Egan] to get a feel for him again in that sort of environment," he said.
"For a big horse we were hopeful that this track shouldn't hold any fears given he came down The Dip at Newmarket so well and we were very pleased with what we saw there. He came down the hill nicely, switched leads into Tattenham Corner without having to be told to and he went through it all nicely.
"This is the first serious bit of work he's done since Newmarket. He had worked pretty hard in the lead up to that race so I didn't feel we needed to do a huge amount with him between then and now; he's set and ready to go.
"For me the trip is not a question mark; I think he'll improve for the distance and I'd be confident of that. The question mark is whether he's good enough, he's going to have to improve 10 to 14lb and is going into it 5lb lower than Lazy Griff did last year.
"We're bringing him here expecting him to be in the shake-up."
I wouldn't swap her for anything
Ancient Egypt was something of an unknown quantity given his lack of pattern race form whereas Venetian Lace finished second to Precise in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile last season and has long been targeted at the Oaks.
Venetian Lace finished a fine third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on her sole start this season and is 8/1 for the Oaks with Paddy Power and Sky Bet.
"Until Sunday I thought she had the best form in the race of those likely to be there," he said. "I saw that [Irish 1000 Guineas] live and that frightened me quite a bit so I hope she [Precise] doesn't come but it looks like she might now.
"I've got no doubt that she's good enough, she's been placed twice at Group 1 level. With her the trip is an unknown, both sides of the pedigree would give you confidence; we're pretty confident she'll stay 10, whether she'll stay 12 or not we'll find out on the day. Aside from that I wouldn't swop her for anything.
"Until Sunday there was nothing in the race that scared me, there is one now but we're still very confident. She outran her odds in Newmarket and we were quite open in the build-up that we were going there as an Oaks trial; if she finished in the first four or five and hit the line strong, that was going to be the perfect Oaks Trial and that was what she did."
Unlike her stablemate, Venetian Lace didn't travel to Epsom for the gallops morning with Johnston explaining: "We didn't feel coming here would be any benefit to her and she's quite hard on herself, she's very generous in her races and her work and when she went to the Craven Meeting for that racecourse gallop she lost 22 kilos so I didn't fancy doing that 10 days before the Oaks."
While the Middleham handler has no concerns about the ability of the pair, he is keeping a watchful eye on the weather forecast with the hope that quick ground will prevail.
"The quicker the better really," he said.
"It does concern me slightly that there's a tendency to water plenty at this track and the forecast doesn't look quite so good next week as it is this week so I'd love them to put the breaks on that sooner rather than later."
Egan keen on Egypt's chance
David Egan also feels that Ancient Egypt has a great chance of helping him achieve a lifelong dream of securing a breakthrough success in the Betfred Derby.
Having come within touching distance of winning the Epsom Downs Classic five years ago when finishing second aboard Mojo Star the 26 year old is now keen to go one better.
But Egan is optimistic about his chances after the three-time winner put in a pleasing spin at the Surrey venue during the annual Betfred Derby Gallops Morning on Tuesday.
Egan said: “The horse came down the hill and was really balanced. I was really happy with him. He is a beautiful horse and it was good to come and have a sit on him coming down the hill.
“He changed leads when he needed to and he really free wheeled down the hill which is what we wanted to see.
“I don’t really look at prices, but he has got a very nice profile for the race. He is the type of horse that has got the mentality to handle the whole race day experience on Derby day better than anyone else, and I would be confident to say that.
“He is a very laid back individual that has got a very big stride and he will stay well, which for me, being a guaranteed stayer, is a big box to tick in this race as you know. He goes to the Derby with what I think is a great chance.”
Even though plenty has happened since filling the runner-up berth in the race aboard the Richard Hannon-trained Mojo Star, Egan still remembers the day, and the build up to the race, as if it happened yesterday.
He added: “I was lucky enough Kia (Joorabchian, founder of Amo Racing) rang me up a week before the Derby five years ago to ask if I could ride his horse, which was Mojo Star, and we finished second, behind Adayar.
“We were second best that day, but I got a great trip around and it was a great buzz.
"To be so close to Adam (Kirby), and the emotion he felt, I was happy finishing second, but then from real happiness it went to being the real urge that I want to be him.
“It is the dream that every jockey wants to win the Derby and that is the plan to try and do that with Ancient Egypt.”
While much is often made about the draw, Egan believes that it will make no difference as to what stall Ancient Egypt will come out of given his versatility and his ability to handle undulating tracks.
He added: “I think the press make a big hype about the draw. They are all starting in the same line and you are going straight up the hill. He is a straightforward horse and tactically he is uncomplicated.
“I’m sure he will be more towards the front of the field than the back of the field. He is a horse that I wouldn’t worry what draw he would get put it that way.
“When a horse with a big price tag goes two out of two you have got to respect it. "The fact that he has run at Beverley and at Newmarket down the dip is very much beneficial to him opposed to some of the horses that have only run at nice, flat galloping tracks.
“I think the fact we have had a spin around here this morning will be another feather in the cap.”
And although Egan, who became the retained number rider to Amo Racing back in 2023, is no stranger to taking part in the largest events in racing he admits the nerves will still be there come the big day.
He added: “There will always be butterflies for a race like this as it is the Creme de la Creme, but I’ve been lucky enough over the last few years, and since joining Amo Racing, that I’ve been competing at these big meetings on a weekly basis.
“I was nervous going into the Irish 2000 Guineas at the weekend, but you perform better under a nervous situation as the emotions and endorphins get your blood pumped.
“That is what really athletes thrive on and that is exactly what I do so I’m looking forward to the big day.”
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