Ambiente Friendly Gears Up for Juddmonte International

Ambiente Friendly is set to make a significant impact in the upcoming Juddmonte International at York, as he continues his impressive progress under the guidance of trainer James Fanshawe. The three-year-old colt, sired by Gleneagles, is preparing to take his place in a competitive field following a series of noteworthy performances this season.

The colt first made headlines with a dominant victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial in May, winning by four and a half lengths. This victory catapulted him into the Epsom Derby conversation, where he ultimately finished a commendable second to Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy. Despite being a 9-2 shot, Ambiente Friendly's performance at Epsom solidified his reputation as a promising contender.

In late June, Ambiente Friendly took on the Irish Derby at the Curragh, where he was the favourite but finished third. This result led connections to consider a strategic change, opting to skip the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes to prepare him for a mile and a quarter at York.

Recent preparations have been promising. Ambiente Friendly recently completed a crucial workout on Newmarket's July course under jockey Robert Havlin. The session was reportedly very positive, with Havlin expressing satisfaction with the colt’s condition.

Tim Gredley, a member of the ownership team, commented on the horse’s preparation and prospects: “He did a bit of work on the July course this morning and Rab said he couldn’t have gone better. A flat track and a left-handed mile and a quarter could be ideal. While I’m not going to claim we’re going to win, everyone is very happy with him.”

Ambiente Friendly has been described as a work in progress, and Gredley is hopeful that continued improvement will lead to further successes. He compared the colt’s potential to Roger Varian’s dual Group One winner Charyn, who has seen significant progress from three to four years old.

“We gave him a little break and decided to skip the King George,” said Gredley. “Every time we see him, he seems to improve mentally and physically. Rab noted that he’s much more relaxed than three months ago, which is exciting.”

Looking ahead, Gredley and the team are optimistic about the colt’s future, not only in the Juddmonte International but also in his four-year-old season. “We’re all dreamers, and while we hope for success, we’re pleased with how he’s developing and confident in his preparation for York.”

As Ambiente Friendly heads to the Juddmonte International, all systems are go, and his connections are eagerly anticipating a strong performance on one of the sport’s biggest stages.