The Queen’s horse Carlton House cantered successfully on Friday
The Queen’s horse Carlton House is looking increasingly likely to race in Saturday’s Epsom Derby after impressing in a run-out on Friday.
John Warren, the Queen’s racing manager, told BBC Sport that the three-year-old is on track after a successful canter on Friday morning.
“The horse is well on target for Saturday,” said Warren on Friday.
“He’s done more exercise this morning and was moving beautifully. The team are very happy.”
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt has been the long-time race favourite but doubts over his participation arose after he developed swelling in a leg.
But he has was declared in the field for the mile-and-a-half Classic and reacted well to cantering on Thursday when checked at evening stables.
And his impressive showing when cantering on Friday will boost his chances of lining up in the historic race on Saturday.
After winning the Dante Stakes at York in May, the horse was found to have a problem after a routine canter on Tuesday.
Warren compared the injury Carlton House suffered to the ankle strain suffered by British tennis star Andy Murray at the French Open.
“While Andy pulled up when he rolled his ankle, the horse has never actually been lame. It’s quite a good analogy,” said Warren.
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I know it’s a big story but for me it’s just a horse race
Carlton House jockey Ryan Moore
“However, the horse cannot put his leg up for rest like a human being, so is much more vulnerable.”
Warren indicated the Queen had been closely monitoring news of Carlton House’s fitness.
“Any owner that has a runner in the Derby this week will follow their horse blow by blow,” he said.
Carlton House, due to be ridden by Ryan Moore, is seeking to be the first Derby winner owned by a reigning monarch since Minoru won in 1909 for King Edward VII.
Moore said he was trying to ignore the extra pressure of riding a horse attracting special media and public interest.
“I know it’s a big story but for me it’s just a horse race,” he said.
“You always look forward to riding in the big races and I don’t really treat this any differently.
“I’ve been lucky to ride for the Queen since I was 18, when I was with Richard Hannon, and now for Sir Michael Stoute.
“So I’ve met her a good few times and I’m just glad she has got a good horse.
“I speak to her occasionally about the horses. She adores everything about it, from the foals onward. She sees the horses regularly and loves the sport. She’s very easy to deal with.
“But you just treat this horse in the same way as if it belonged to any other owner in the yard.”
The Queen has had nine runners in the race but this will be her first since Church Parade finished fifth behind Shergar 30 years ago. She came closest to winning in 1953 when Aureole was second.
Stoute is the most successful current Derby trainer, with five victories, including the 2010 running with Workforce.
Epsom Derby entries (form, horse, owner, trainer)
21-1 CARLTON HOUSE (USA) Sir Michael Stoute
0560-5 CASTLEMORRIS KING Michael Attwater
1-6 MARHABA MALYOON (Ire) David Simcock
16-51 MASKED MARVEL John Gosden
5(1)-2 MEMPHIS TENNESSEE (Ire) Aidan O’Brien (Ire)
114-13 NATIVE KHAN (Fra) Ed Dunlop
5-11 OCEAN WAR Mahmood Al Zarooni
0(1)120-3 PISCO SOUR (USA) Hughie Morrison
01-31 POUR MOI (Ire) Andre Fabre (Fra)
11-31 RECITAL (Fra) Aidan O’Brien (Ire)
212-2 SEVILLE (Ger) Aidan O’Brien (Ire)
21123-1 TREASURE BEACH Aidan O’Brien (Ire)
61-13 VADAMAR (Fra) Alain de Royer Dupre (Fra)
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Replay – Workforce wins 2010 Derby
