Hugo Palmer Weighs Options for Promising Wolf Of Badenoch as Rajinsky Nears Return

Trainer Hugo Palmer is playing his cards close to his chest regarding the next move for his exciting two-year-old colt, Wolf Of Badenoch. After an impressive debut victory at Doncaster in June, the son of Pinatubo has caught the eye of racing enthusiasts, but Palmer remains undecided on where the talented colt will make his next appearance.

Wolf Of Badenoch, owned by Fitri Hay, showcased his potential on debut by winning comfortably by one and a half lengths over Lazy Griff. He then delivered another strong performance in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, finishing a close second to Aomori City, with Cool Hoof Luke trailing in third. The latter has since gone on to win the prestigious Gimcrack Stakes at York, further highlighting the quality of the Vintage Stakes form.

Despite Wolf Of Badenoch holding an entry for the Acomb Stakes at York, Palmer had always planned to look further ahead. “York was never really the plan. Wolf Of Badenoch will either go to the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster or the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh,” Palmer explained. “He’s also in the Royal Lodge, so we’ll just see. He is in everything. We’ll see how the deck shuffles.”

With several high-profile options on the table, Palmer is carefully considering the best path for his promising colt, aiming to maximize his potential as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, stablemate Rajinsky is on the brink of making his return to the track after a lengthy 398-day absence. The eight-year-old, last seen finishing 11 lengths behind in the Prix du Carrousel at Deauville in July 2023, has been sidelined following colic surgery. Palmer is eyeing a comeback in the Virgin Bet Chester Stakes this weekend, provided the weather conditions are favorable.

“He had colic surgery after his last run in France, so he’s done very well to come back,” Palmer said. However, the trainer expressed concern over the ground conditions, as Rajinsky prefers firmer footing. “Whether or not he can run this weekend will depend on the weather. When I left Chester this morning (Wednesday) the roads were pretty wet, but we’ll just see how much rain they get. He won’t want fast ground.”

As Palmer navigates the options for both Wolf Of Badenoch and Rajinsky, the racing world eagerly awaits the next chapter in the careers of these two intriguing horses.