Spartacus team left frustrated
Im Spartacus looks likely to return to Britain shortly after rock-hard ground at Belmont Park left connections frustrated following a trip across the Atlantic.
David Flood had sent the progressive three-year-old to the New York track for yesterday’s Grade Three Lexington Stakes.
But the gelding was unable to reproduce the form that saw him beat subsequent Irish Derby runner-up Scorpion in May and he finished fifth of the six runners.
“It was a complete disaster,” said Flood, who arrived back from America this morning. “It rained on Thursday and we walked the track when we got there.
“It was good ground and there was no jar. But it became very warm and it was like a hairdryer on the track, so by the time of the race it was like concrete.
“They crawled along in the early stages and Jamie Spencer never felt that the horse was suited by the ground and he just looked after him in the end.
“It had been in the back of my mind to pull him out, but he is a very sound horse and his legs were fine afterwards.
“His best form is with cut in the ground, but if it had been English good ground it would have been fine. But that ground was like running on the M25.”
Originally the plan had been to keep the son of Namaqualand at Belmont until Saturday’s Grade Two Bowling Green Handicap.
But this now appears to have been shelved.
The Upper Lambourn trainer added: “I don’t really see any point in running there on Saturday as I think the ground will be firm again, it will be over an extra furlong and the horses will be better again.
“I need to discuss it with the owners before we make a final decision, but I would be happy if he came home.”
