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Ambiente Friendly to try shorter test after Irish Derby third

Trainer James Fanshawe is eyeing a return to a shorter distance for Ambiente Friendly, second in the Epsom Derby and third in the Irish equivalent on Sunday.

AMBIENTE FRIENDLY.
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY. Picture: Healy Racing.

A winner over seven furlongs as a juvenile, the Gleneagles colt was comfortably beaten in the nine furlong Listed Feilden Stakes on his seasonal return before recording an impressive success over Illinois in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes.

In an interview with Racing TV, James Fanshawe said: "I think we will probably be dropping back in trip now. He's ran in a trial and two Derbys so we are going to have to see how he is when we get home. It would be quite nice to get him winning again before we have any real big targets.

"You would really like to have a go at the Qipco Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Ascot at the end of the season, but we will see how he is when he gets home.

"He's got a lot of pace and has grown up an awful lot, he's gone from racing over seven furlongs to a mile and a half. Mr (Bill) Gredley really wanted to have a go at the Derbys and fair play to him for sticking to that route because it nearly paid off."

The opposite plan appears to be on the cards for Irish Derby second Sunway, with trainer David Menuisier keen to have a tilt at the final Classic of the season – the St Leger at Doncaster.

Sunway appeared to relish the step up to twelve furlongs for the first time at the Curragh, having finished mifield on his previous start over ten furlongs in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Winner of the Group 1 Criterium International as a juvenile, the Galiway colt has plenty of ability and a big prize appears well-within his capabilties this season.

"I'm delighted with the horse because we have always thought the world of him and people had lost faith in the horse," said Menuisier.

"Today he really vindicated himself and showed he is a real class act. I'm really delighted for the horse.

"He got hampered at the start of the French Derby and was nearly brought down. He was closing really fast and only beaten three-quarters of a length for fourth. The ground was tacky and he did something special that day and I think people didn't give him credit for that.

"I never doubted the horse and I see him every morning, so I know he is a good horse. I'm over the moon he vindicated himself today.

"We will enjoy this and I could see him staying a bit further. If the owners agree he could well go the Leger and we could well have a top stayer on our hands."


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