Dubai: Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour has opted against running True Story in Saturday’s Irish Derby (G1) due to the potential ground that has been forecast at the Curragh track.
The three-year-old Darely homebred will instead take his chances against the seniors in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (July 5) at Sandown Park.
Bin Surour said he was of the opinion that True Story will be more suited by the mile and a quarter trip at Sandown as opposed to the extra two furlongs he would have had to cope with in the Derby.
The Emirati handler also confirmed the Feilden Stakes winner will run in a visor for the first time.
“He’s not going to Ireland, he’s going for the Eclipse, I think the 10 furlongs will suit him,” said the Godolphin trainer, who won the Eclipse in 204 with Refuse to Bend.
“The Eclipse will be fine for him and he’s going to run in a visor for the first time. We have worked him at home with a visor and he looked much more focused. Wherever he goes he’ll wear a visor.
“He didn’t run [well] at all in the Derby. Before the race he was flying but as soon as he left the stalls he was not there.
“At halfway Kieren [Fallon] had to ask him, which is unusual for the horse. Kieren said he didn’t like the track. We know he’s much better than that.
The ground at the Curragh was described as good to firm following 5mm rain overnight although a few isolated showers were forecast.
Meanwhile, Bin Surour also revealed that his Royal Ascot scorer Elite Army will be targeted at the St Leger (September 13, Doncaster).
He will run in the Gordon Stakes (G3) at Glorious Goodwood, a race used by Sixties Icon and Conduit as a prep for the St Leger.
“Elite Army is good. He’s content, well, fresh and happy,” said Bin Surour.
“He will just have an easy time of it until the end of the month and then we’ll start building him up towards Goodwood and the Leger trial.
“I have always liked him, that’s why I gave him the name Elite Army, and we have time to teach him to settle.
“I’m not too worried about the Leger trip as it is not until September so we hope to teach him to settle before then. That will be the key.”
