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York firmly on agenda for Irish Derby winner Latrobe

Latrobe, white capLatrobe, white cap
© Healy Racing Photos

Irish Derby winner Latrobe is all set for the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday week.

Joseph O’Brien’s shock Classic hero also has the option of the Great Voltigeur Stakes over a mile and a half, but the trainer said: “It’s more than likely the Juddmonte at this stage, and then after that we’ll make a plan for the rest of the season.

“York is the immediate plan. We’re going to go there, more than likely to the Juddmonte but he does have the option of the Voltigeur.”

Speaking at the launch of the Longines Irish Champion Weekend, O’Brien added: “Obviously being owned by Lloyd and Nick Williams, Australia (Melbourne Cup) is an option as well.

“If he was run on Irish Champions Weekend it would be the Irish Champion Stakes.”

O’Brien’s father, Aidan, is set to run 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior, who is on something of a retrieval mission.

His stock has been on the wane since Newmarket, with defeats in the Derby, the Irish Derby and the Eclipse.

O’Brien said: “If everything goes well he’ll start back at York.

“That’s what we’re thinking at the moment.”

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Poet’s Word booked his ticket for York with a gallop at the weekend.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said: “Poet’s Word worked very well on Sunday morning.

“He worked on the all-weather, which he has done most of his work on.

“He just had a nice breeze and that was good. Michael was very happy with him and he is on schedule to run at York.

“A mile and a quarter, a mile and a half — it’s the same for him.”

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My Racing Story. Jane Carpenter

I'm from just outside Kells, Co Meath and I suppose racing has always been a passion of mine. I do love the sport, and it is brilliant to make a career out of it now. My family are huge racing fans and I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Racing is a highly discussed topic at home with my family as well as farming. The racing is never off the TV. We take an annual family holiday to Galway every year. We go down for the week, and I've been going since I was a child. It is a proper family tradition now. We have going to the same house for the races I'd say for 14 or 15 years now. There are so many bedrooms there and some of my friends from home come down towards the weekend. It is a proper good holiday, and it is always in our calendars every single year. We were in Punchestown recently after Fairyhouse, so we would be big supporters of going racing. My parents are farmers, so I wouldn't have a close association with horses. I grew up on the farm, and I've been surrounded by animals all of my life. I know at first hand the effort, work and dedication that goes into animals and caring for them. I would have helped dad out on the farm alongside my two brothers. We still try to give a hand when time allows. We've no horses here on the farm, but I'm extremely confident that we will one day! I used to do a bit of riding when I was younger at my local equestrian centre. Things just got in the way then, but last summer I took it back up as a hobby. I'm really enjoying that again.