Racing
Fellowes eyeing French Derby prize with talented Luther
“He has a bombproof attitude and wherever he goes he will put 150% in.”
Charlie Fellowes is keen to give his highly talented colt Luther another chance of claiming French Classic glory, with the Newmarket-based handler seemingly favouring a trip to the Prix du Jockey Club over Epsom.
A classy two-year-old, Luther enjoyed a comfortable success over the Epsom Oaks-bound Qilin Queen in the Listed Ascendant Stakes at Haydock last year before failing to handle Newmarket's infamous 'dip' when fifth behind Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Group 2 Royal Lodge in his campaign closer.
"He hated the Royal Lodge," said Fellowes. "The ground was too soft for him, and he just didn't handle the dip whatsoever at Newmarket. When they hit that dip, they really go from gear three to gear five and he just got absolutely lost."
Following a pleasing reappearance behind John and Thady Gosden's Detain in a conditions race at Chelmsford, Fellowes opted to roll the dice, stepping him up to Group 1 company for the first time in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp.
Despite being handed a very tricky starting berth in stall fourteen, Luther performed with plenty of credit, staying on nicely through the line to finish less than two lengths behind the track-record-breaking winner Henri Matisse in fourth.
"I've always had a huge amount of faith in this horse. He's always shown me loads at home and I was very confident we'd turn around the form with Detain in France. I think we were a little bit unlucky when we ran against him at Chelmsford.
"The draw didn't help us in France, but he was electric out the gates and got given a lovely ride by Kieran (Shoemark).
"He stayed on all the way through the line."
Fellowes is now keen to test his son of Frankel up in trip, with Chantilly's intermediate distance likely to prove the ideal starting point for the next step of his campaign.
Speaking on Sky Sports Racing, he said: "I can't quite decide where to go, he's in the English Derby and the French Derby. He could go either way, but I think we're probably 65% French Derby and 35% likely for the Epsom Derby.
"He's by Frankel – out of a Musidora winner – his pedigree suggests he should stay a mile and a half, although unlike Shes Perfect, he's always shown me a lot of speed at home. I would have doubts about the mile and a half for him.
"He has a bombproof attitude and wherever he goes he will put 150% in.
"Obviously, the French Derby comes quite quickly, it's next Sunday, so he doesn't have a lot of time to back up.
"He lost 10kg for his trip over to France and he's put that all back on. He's rock-hard, very tough, so he'll do a little bit of work tomorrow morning."
Whilst connections are clearly keen to have a crack at the Chantilly showpiece, Fellowes was quick to Luther's participation does revolve around a dry forecast in the Hauts-de-France region.
Fellowes added: "We'll see what the confirmations look like on Monday for France and the forecast will also be very important. I won't run him if there's a lot of rain in the forecast and it looks like being soft ground. That will be the big deciding factor, but I think he's ready to go again and the ten and a half furlongs around Chantilly should suit him well."
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