Ambiente Friendly Bounces Back After Disappointing York Run, Future Plans Under Review
But no plans made yet for Derby runner-up.
Trainer James Fanshawe reports that Ambiente Friendly is in "nice and bright" condition following a disappointing showing in the Juddmonte International at York. The talented colt, who had previously finished second to City Of Troy in the Derby at Epsom and placed third in the Irish Derby, had been highly anticipated to perform well in a rematch with City Of Troy over a mile and a quarter.
However, things didn’t go as planned at York. While City Of Troy delivered a stunning, front-running performance to confirm his status as Europe’s top middle-distance horse, setting a new course record in the process, Ambiente Friendly struggled. The son of Gleneagles pulled fiercely early on, refusing to settle, and eventually faded out of contention, finishing 10th of 13 runners.
Fanshawe later explained that the colt had encountered an issue during the race, getting his tongue over the bit and making a respiratory noise, which impacted his performance. Despite the setback, Ambiente Friendly appears to have come through the race unscathed.
"He's really well actually, he's come out of the race in good form," Fanshawe shared on Wednesday. "He was back doing two canters this morning and seems nice and bright."
Reflecting on the York performance, Fanshawe acknowledged that Ambiente Friendly’s keenness early in the race prevented him from settling, which ultimately affected his ability to get into a competitive rhythm.
Looking ahead, the colt holds entries in several high-profile races, including the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, and the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Fanshawe will consult with the Gredley family, who own Ambiente Friendly, before deciding on his next steps.
"We've got plenty of options, so we'll just see how he is over the next few days," Fanshawe said. "I'll have a chat with Bill and Tim (Gredley) and decide where we're going from here."
With a strong recovery under his belt and numerous big-race options on the horizon, Ambiente Friendly's next outing is eagerly awaited by fans and connections alike.
