Aidan O’Brien is set to run controversial frontrunner Puerto Rico in next week’s £1.2 million Sussex Stakes rematch between Bow Echo and Gstaad.
After the second clash of the year between the 2,000 Guineas first and second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, Bow Echo confirmed his superiority by holding off Gstaad by a short head. But that wasn’t the whole story as jockey Christophe Soumillon, who was aboard Puerto Rico, received an eight-day ban for ‘riding in a manner to benefit’ stablemate Gstaad. The ten-time French champion took two glances over his shoulder as he moved Puerto Rico towards the middle the course entering the straight, causing slight inteference to another rival, which left space for Gstaad to make his challenge along the far rail.
Soumillon's ban reduced on appeal
He appealed against the verdict but a disciplinary panel was satisfied he rode in a way which gave an advantage to Gstaad, adding, “For the avoidance of doubt, we are not satisfied that the Appellant intended so to do.” However the suspension was cut to five days.
Puerto Rico, a dual Group 1 winner under Soumillon last year, finished sixth at Ascot but is among the Ballydoyle entries for the July 29 showpiece in which the three-year-olds will race against older horses for the first time.
O'Brien's plans for Goodwood
Confirming his plans for the Glorious Goodwood meeting in an interview with the racecourse, O'Brien said he was keen to run both Gstaad and Puerto Rico. He said: “Gstaad came out of Ascot very well and we’re looking forward to going there with him – we always thought it was a race that would suit him.
“He obviously just failed at Ascot. Things didn’t go perfectly for us at Ascot, and maybe they didn’t for Bow Echo either.
“In the Guineas, we felt we were forced on. We were very forward and had to do our own donkey work, while Bow Echo had lovely cover and everything worked well for him.
“Then we went to Ascot and felt that maybe it didn’t go 100 per cent for us either. Maybe the lads thought it didn’t go perfectly for Bow Echo, either.
“It’s going to be interesting. That’s what I think makes these races great. We’re looking forward to seeing what happens.”
Of Puerto Rico, O'Brien said: “Obviously, Ascot was a complete mess for him. He went forward, and I think he got taken on for the lead. It just all went out the window.
“We had planned on making the running with him. He won his two Group 1s making the running - it just didn’t work for him on the day.
“There was a snowball effect throughout the whole race when that happened, but that’s racing, and it doesn’t go right all the time.
“We’re very happy with his progress since, and we feel that we will see a different horse this time.”
