Group 1 double winner Lord North will miss out on a planned trip to Saudi Arabia in favor of a race closer to home, and worth less than £1 million, in the Betway (G3) Winter Derby at Lingfield Racecourse on the same day, February 26.
The 6-year-old, absent since his DP World (G1)-sponsored Dubai Turf victory at Meydan Racecourse nearly a year ago, has been invited to the $1.5 million Neom Turf Cup (G3) America in Riyadh, where he is expected to appear on the same card as his steady friend and the reigning Saudi Cup champion Mishriff .
Now, the John and Thady Gosden-trained jockey will reappear in the 1/4 mile feature at the Surrey track, a £110,000 race that has gone the way of Clarehaven Stables in the past three years, most recently with Forest of Dean .
The presence of Lord North, the 7-4 favorite to land the winter Derby, will add glitter to the all-weather competition and it could serve as a launch pad for a return to Dubai.
The Gosdens are willing to spend $1.5 million right now with their eyes adamant about there being another crack at the $6 million Dubai Turf that the stables won last March.
John Gosden said: “Lord North is fine but he’s been off for so long, we don’t think sending him to Saudi Arabia for his first run in almost a year is the way forward. The plan is to send him in. Harrovian in his place for the Neom Cup and hope Lord North can then attend the Winter Derby. “
If Lord North makes it back to Dubai World Cup night, he might meet posh sluts Saffron Beach Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam.
Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) winner at Newmarket last October, daughter of New Bay also had a number of highly ranked efforts in 2021, including a runner-up in QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1).
Saffron Beach looked in good condition while sheltering in Warren Hill on the morning of February 14 and was set for a major workout on Wednesday.
The 4-year-old is a 10-1 chance for the Dubai Turf. Her trainer said: “We’re hoping Saffron Beach gets invited to the Dubai Turf. Hollie Doyle is coming in on Wednesday to ride her in a production and we’ll take it from there. She’s wintering. very good and the track and ride at Meydan should play to her full potential.”
