Lingering Doubts over Workforce Plans

For a horse that is now a short as 5/1 second favourite with Online horse betting for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 3, connections of Epsom derby hero Workforce were hardly bubbling with enthusiasm after his latest piece of work on the Newmarket gallops, writes Elliot Slater.

Those focusing on events such as Ayr gold cup 2010 note that Workforce worked on Wednesday morning under the watchful out of trainer Sir Michael Stoute and owner Prince Khaled Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe, and having apparently moved comfortably it would surely have been expected that, with only a week and a half to the big race, connections would have a clear mind as to whether or not the son of King’s Best is ready to go into battle against the best middle-distance horses in the world.

In the event, Grimthorpe would only say, “His work has been stepped up and we will make a decision when the horse has told Sir Michael and Sir Michael has told us, but we're not at that stage yet."

Despite the uncertainty, Workforce, last seen when a dismal fifth in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, has come in for market support and is currently rated alongside Fame And Glory as joint-second favourite for the race at 5/1 with some firms (Ladbrokes 6/1), behind last week’s Prix Niel winner Behkabad (on offer at 7/2).

Following his devastating seven-length win in the Epsom Derby in June, Workforce was being talked of as the next big superstar of the Flat racing scene, but was quickly superseded by the now retired Harbinger as the horse the public took to their hearts. Victory in Paris would resurrect the impression gained at Epsom and re-establish Stoute’s colt as a genuinely top class performer.