Fortune favoured for Rip Van Winkle ride

Published on Tuesday 30 June 2009 22:46

JIMMY Fortune has expressed his glee about winning Saturday's golden ticket on Rip Van Winkle in the Coral-Eclipse.

After Johnny Murtagh last week failed in an appeal to reduce a ban incurred on Kayf Aramis at Royal Ascot, the mount on Aidan O'Brien's colt became available to one lucky jockey.

Murtagh has partnered Rip Van Winkle on each of his five racecourse starts to date, winning twice as a two-year-old and picking him above other O'Brien horses to finish fourth to Eclipse opponent Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.

Fortune has only ridden for O'Brien a handful of times in recent seasons, and without success.

But when Murtagh was banned for the last two days of the Royal meeting, he was entrusted aboard the stable's Beethoven in the Chesham Stakes, steering him to fourth.

"It's great news – I'm delighted," said Fortune. "With Johnny suspended the ride was available, and my agent just rang me up with the news this morning. Dropping back to a mile and a quarter should suit him and I should think he has a great chance – I'm very hopeful."

One of Rip Van Winkle's other main rivals will be Cima De Triomphe, who completed his preparations on the gallops yesterday. Trainer Luca Cumani's new charge is the 8-1 fourth favourite with the sponsors, and defeated the much shorter-priced Conduit in May's Brigadier Gerard Stakes – albeit on 7lb better terms.

The colt made his debut for Cumani when closing into sixth behind Royal Ascot winner Vision D'Etat in the Prix Ganay.

Cima De Triomphe had previously been trained in Italy as a two- and three-year-old.

Cumani yesterday remained realistic about his prospects, however. "He did his last bit of work this morning where he went six furlongs in company with two other horses," he said. "He's in good form, and we are going there hopeful of a good run, but under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task against horses like Conduit, Sea The Stars and Rip Van Winkle.

"We still have 12 furlongs as an option for him at another time – he is versatile enough to be effective at both – but this will be a tough 10 because there will be plenty of pace in the race."

Cumani's pragmatism was echoed by Kevin Shea, who will be aboard the Mike de Kock-trained Archipenko.

"It's definitely going to be the race of all races," said the South African jockey. "I must be honest, I'm a bit sceptical about it at the moment – but we're always hopeful and things can always pan out for you in the race.

"When you look at the Sea The Stars and Conduit's line with Eagle Mountain (in the Breeders' Cup Turf] and these kind of horses that are running, he's running against it is a bit of a tough ask – but stranger things have happened in the game. He's in top form and we're looking forward to it."