Highland Avenue now leads on European road to the Derby
An odds-on favorite as usual on both sides of the Atlantic, the Godolphin homebred Highland Avenue did not disappoint Wednesday in a European points prep for the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Highland Avenue (1-5 U.S., 4-9 U.K.) ran his 3-year-old record to 2-for-2 by winning the Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes on the synthetic course at Kempton Park in London. The victory moved him into the lead on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Ridden for the first time by Hollie Doyle for trainer Charlie Appleby, the gray colt by Dubawi closed from last place at the top of the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths against five other starters in the one-turn mile. The maiden Sergeant Tibbs (99-1, 200-1) was second. Three-time sprint winner Oo De Lally (2-1, 5-2) was another three-quarters of a length back in third. Early pace-chaser Bodroy (99-1, 125-1) was yet another length behind in fourth.
It was a successful change of tactics for Highland Avenue, who had chased the pace finishing a close second in his December debut before leading from gate to wire last month in his maiden victory over the same course and distance as Wednesday’s race.
Breaking from an inside draw, Doyle took a ground-saving trip all the way to the end. Biding her time until the rail splits inward and the course widens in the last quarter-mile, Doyle used the extra room to seize the lead and draw away to the victory. The winning time without a run-up was 1:38.12.
In earning 20 points, Highland Avenue assumed the lead in European qualifying for the Kentucky Derby, where one place in the Churchill Downs gate is reserved. The Patton Stakes on Friday at Dundalk, Ireland, and the Cardinal Condition Stakes on April 1 at Chelmsford City in Essex, England, will decide who gets the first crack at that invitation.
Instead of the Derby, Highland Avenue instead might be sent the same day to the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket, England. He is also nominated for the Irish Derby (G1) on Jun 26 at the Curragh.
With his long-shot finish in second, Sergeant Tibbs paid $40.20 to place. The $2 exacta paid $94.80.