Derby runner-up firmly on course for City Of Troy rematch.
Ambiente Friendly Gears Up for the Juddmonte International: The Ultimate Showdown at York
All eyes are on Ambiente Friendly as the three-year-old colt, trained by James Fanshawe, prepares to take on some of the finest in the sport at the Juddmonte International at York next week. The son of Gleneagles, owned by the Gredley family, has had a stellar season so far, and this highly anticipated race marks another crucial chapter in his promising career.
The colt first made waves in May when he triumphed in the Lingfield Derby Trial, winning by an impressive four and a half lengths. This victory propelled him into the spotlight as a serious contender for the Epsom Derby. While the Epsom Derby ultimately went to Aidan O'Brien's City Of Troy, Ambiente Friendly's performance as a runner-up solidified his status as a rising star in the racing world.
Following his strong showing at Epsom, Ambiente Friendly entered the Irish Derby at the Curragh in late June as the favorite. Although he finished third, his performance left a lasting impression on his connections, who began contemplating a strategic move—a step down in trip.
Instead of competing in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes over a mile and a half, Fanshawe and his team decided to hold off, giving Ambiente Friendly time to refresh before taking on the Juddmonte International over a slightly shorter distance of a mile and a quarter. This decision reflects their belief that this distance, combined with the flat, left-handed track at York, could provide the ideal conditions for the colt to shine.
Earlier this week, Ambiente Friendly completed a critical workout on Newmarket's July course under jockey Robert Havlin. The exercise went smoothly, with Havlin reporting that the colt performed exceptionally well, fueling confidence among his team ahead of the big race.
Tim Gredley, representing the ownership, expressed his optimism, stating, "He did a bit of work on the July course this morning, and Rab said he couldn’t have gone better. A flat track and a left-handed mile and a quarter could be ideal for him. We’re up against some very, very good horses, but after speaking with the trainer and the jockey, we’re confident he’s in a great place."
"I'm not going to sit here and say we are going to win it because it's the Juddmonte International, it's a very prestigious race, but everyone is so happy with him – they couldn't be happier."
🗣"That was just exceptional" 👏
It certainly was from Ambiente Friendly!#ITVRacing | @CallumSheppy | 🎙️@olibellracing pic.twitter.com/UAGhnxPXIe
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 11, 2024
Ambiente Friendly has always been regarded as a work in progress, and his connections are hopeful that he will continue to develop both mentally and physically as the season progresses. Gredley notes that the colt has shown significant improvement, particularly in his temperament, which has become noticeably more relaxed over the past few months.
"We gave him a little break and decided to skip the King George," Gredley explained. "Every time we see him, he seems to improve in a different way, both mentally and physically. Rab mentioned this morning how much more relaxed he is now compared to three months ago. It’s incredibly exciting to see a horse improve with each race, rather than regressing."
Looking ahead, Gredley expressed his excitement about keeping Ambiente Friendly in training for the next season, drawing parallels to the success of Roger Varian's Charyn, who has peaked in his four-year-old season. "We’re lucky that, all being well, we can keep him in training for next year at least. Tom Fanshawe, son and assistant to James, has always said that physically he’s still not quite there. But when you look at horses like Roger Varian’s, the improvement from three to four can happen."
As the Juddmonte International approaches, the team behind Ambiente Friendly remains cautiously optimistic, but with a clear sense of hope and ambition. "We’re all dreamers, of course, but it can happen. That’s not to say we can’t win the Juddmonte; everybody’s really happy with him, and we’re all pleased we gave him a little break rather than going to the King George. It’s all systems go."
