European Road makes its final stop in Cardinal at Chelmsford

Apr 04, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Before the trio of major preps stateside on Saturday, the European Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes with the Cardinal Conditions S. at Chelmsford City near London. No Triple Crown nominees are engaged in the one-mile affair on the Polytrack, worth points on the 30-15-9-6-3 format to the top five finishers.

Aidan O’Brien dispatches likely favorite Capulet, a son of Triple Crown champion Justify, who returns from a six-month holiday. A debut winner over the Dundalk Polytrack last August, Capulet was a fine second in the Champions Juvenile (G2) and third in the Sept. 30 Royal Lodge (G2) in his final outing at two.

Ryan Moore turns up for the ride on the colt who has several classic options in Britain, France, and Ireland. If Capulet does vault to the top of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, might the Coolmore brain trust have a rethink about Churchill Downs?

😍 Taking winning debut

Despite showing plenty of signs of inexperience, Capulet (Justify) opens his account to give Seamie Heffernan & Aidan O'Brien a double at @DundalkStadium @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/2kVPH5tEoh

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 15, 2023

Fellow Irish shipper Bergamasco has recency in his favor, having upset the preceding European Road contest, the March 1 Patton Race at Dundalk. Indeed, the Jack Davison trainee has been busy over the winter, and the gelding arrives on a relentlessly upward curve.

Cuban Tiger and Orne, the respective winner and third-placer from the Burradon S. at Newcastle, wheel back quickly from their March 29 efforts. The Karl Burke-trained Cuban Tiger was previously second to Godolphin’s Notable Speech in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions S. at Kempton, his only loss from three starts.

Orne adds cheekpieces for John and Thady Gosden. The Al Shaqab colorbearer has not won since the Nov. 4 Horris Hill (G3) on turf, but he has placed in three straight. Runner-up in the Al Rayyan Mile in Qatar, Orne was a close third in the March 7 Spring Cup at Lingfield before his slightly troubled third last time.

Former jockey-turned-trainer Richard Hughes has an intriguing comebacker in Bracken’s Laugh. Hailing from a deep German family, the Zoffany colt won an historically informative race at Newbury on debut. Bracken’s Laugh was then pitched straight into Group 1 company, finishing fifth in the Oct. 22 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1) in his only ensuing start.

The Richard Hannon-trained Blue Lemons, third to Bracken’s Laugh at Newbury, has not raced since his seventh behind Orne in the Horris Hill. Under the Sun has been off the longest, since breaking his maiden in his fourth try for Hugo Palmer Sept. 15. Thrice-raced maiden Redhot Whisper was last seen finishing seventh in the Oct. 28 Futurity Trophy (G1) at Doncaster.

The Cardinal, Chelmsford’s second race, is set for 10:30 a.m. (ET), and you can watch and wager at TwinSpires.com.