Gerry Could Bid For Dewhurst Redemption

Sir Gerry could attempt to avenge his no-show at Newmarket last week in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

James Fanshawe's Gimcrack winner only beat one home in the Middle Park Stakes on Friday, despite being sent off the 2-1 favourite, but is still in the frame for a return to Newmarket on October 20.

The colt's owner, Gerry Galligan, said: 'We are not totally ruling out another race this season and we might be tempted to go for the Dewhurst.

'It just depends on how he looks in the next few weeks.

'They might also get a bit more rain, which will help too.

'It will be a late decision but we are not ruling it out at this stage.'

Most observers attributed Sir Gerry's lifeless display in the Middle Park to the quick ground, but Galligan is not fully convinced by that theory.

He added: 'The run was too bad to be true to be blaming the ground.

'He was not right on the day and his coat was very bad.

'But he's fine now and looked fabulous in the stable on Saturday.

'He deserves another chance to redeem himself. Everyone should keep faith in him because he's a serious horse.'

Bruges has looked a serious horse this term and is also in training for the Dewhurst.

The Marju colt is unbeaten in two starts but will go to Headquarters without a prep run.

David Myerscough's juvenile has not been seen on a racecourse since July and was withdrawn from last Sunday's Beresford Stakes due to the rain-softened ground at the Curragh.

He was also a noteworthy defector from the Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

'We just decided to wait until the Dewhurst because the two races were a bit too close together,' reasoned Myerscough.

'It's been a bit frustrating because he was in the Beresford and then taken out because of the ground.

'But he's a horse who does well at home and we wouldn't be too concerned going straight to Newmarket.

'We might take him to the Polytrack at Dundalk for a spin, just to get him used to working away from home.'

Bruges was ridden by Johnny Murtagh on his first victory at the Curragh but the final word on the appointment of a jockey is likely to be with Bruges' owner, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

'It will be tough getting Johnny again but as he's a Hamdan horse, we could have Willie Supple riding,' added Myerscough.

'If not Willie, I imagine Richard Hills would come in for the ride.

'There's a lot of good two-year-olds coming out of the woodwork and it won't be easy.

'But as far as next year is concerned, we should be able to get a good idea of where we stand after the Dewhurst.'

(C) PA Sport