'They're training towards an unknown' - Grimthorpe airs Classic worries

Considerable uncertainty remains for those preparing horses for the opening Classics of the British season despite provisional plans being released to trainers last week by the BHA detailing when they may be staged under a "best-case scenario".

The Qipco 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, as well as the Investec Oaks and Derby, were postponed this month from their usual dates in May and June as racing continues to grapple with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the BHA's proposals, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas would be run in early June and the Oaks and Derby in early July either side of an unmoved Royal Ascot, which is scheduled to start on June 16 and would take place without crowds if given approval to go ahead.

While the plans have offered some guidance to trainers, those preparing horses for the Classics and beyond are still having to perform a juggling act, according to Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Khalid Abdullah, who could be represented in the Classics by the likes of Group 1-winning juveniles Siskin and Quadrilateral.

Teddy Grimthorpe (right): 'We need to tackle this with a collective and unified approach'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Grimthorpe said: "We're a little bit further forward but not very far and there are still a number of permutations, I fear, to come. From a training point of view and a horse point of view, Siskin and Quadrilateral are in good form and have had good winters. So, as far as that goes, we're on schedule and very happy with them.

"The problem for all trainers at the moment is that they're training towards an unknown. If the first Classics happen in June is that definitely going to be early in the month, or will it be mid-June or later? That can make a considerable amount of difference, so there's no real way to plan a campaign for any of these horses as you don't know when anything's going to be."

While considerable efforts are being made to restage the Classics and a majority of the pattern programme this year, Grimthorpe, who confirmed Enable remains cantering ahead of any resumption of racing, stressed the importance of ensuring the whole of racing was catered for when the sport is able to get back up and running.

He said: "I've said before that there's no point having a Pattern system if none of the smaller races are run as racing lives and dies together, not separately.

"There are a number of issues that are going to have to be overcome and there are a lot of people suffering hardships inside racing, as well as outside of it, so we need to ensure we tackle this with a collective and unified approach. That's my view generally, but it's especially what you do when things are bad."

Joseph O'Brien: ready for racing to return as soon as possibleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Trainer Joseph O'Brien, who had a number of horses entered in the Classics in Britain and Ireland, is eager for racing to restart to provide stability for those working in the industry and entertainment for those living through lockdown conditions.

"The sooner we can get back racing again the better," he said. "Returning to racing can set the wheels in motion to get the industry going again, especially for people who are unemployed and those who have horses out of training at the moment.

"For other people whose jobs may not come back so soon, getting racing back could give them something to watch and enjoy during these difficult times, which would obviously be positive too."

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