LIFE in lockdown can be tough, but Hugo Palmer is putting on a brave face.
The Group 1-winning trainer is ploughing on with his glass half full and believes there are reasons to remain optimistic in these testing times.
“There’s plenty to embrace, despite the calendar not being the same,” he said.
“Look at Royal Ascot. Provided it goes ahead, you could make races like the Edward VII and Ribblesdale trials for the Derby and the Oaks – contests which would normally be consolation races could work as prep runs for Classics.
“By the same token, the St James’s Palace Stakes, usually run on the first day of Royal Ascot, could move to the final day.
“That way you would get three weeks between the Guineas and the St James’s Palace. It’s a fine alternative”.
A remarkable positivity pours from the king of Kremlin Cottage, who has been forced to add the Covid-19 virus to a list of pre-season woes.
Two months ago his stable star Powerful Breeze injured her ribs in a freak accident, ruling her out of the 1,000 Guineas.
And even with the Classic likely to take place a month later, Palmer admits he faces a race against time to get her back up and running.
He said: “Unfortunately there’s no chance she’ll be back for June.
“All her targets will have to be autumn-based and the only way she would be able to run in a Guineas is if they postponed it until September.
“She broke her rib just eight weeks ago and anyone who’s ever done that knows it can be a long and painful road to recovery.
“She’s very well in herself but hasn’t healed just yet.”
With uncertainty surrounding inter-European travel, there’s no better time to stake a claim for the biggest contest of them all.
Current rules prevent trainers including Aidan O’Brien, Jim Bolger and Andre Fabre from sending their horses overseas, meaning the Derby could be markedly less competitive than usual – provided restrictions continue to be enforced.
And Palmer believes he could just have the horse to take advantage.
He continued: “We’re really excited about a horse called Emissary.
“He’s a full brother to Workforce and won his maiden at Wolves last year in really good style.
“In the big early season races hopefully he’ll be the one. Workforce won the Derby after one run as a two-year-old and with any luck our chap can do the same.”
As for his two-year-olds this season, Palmer is aware things are going to be even more turbulent than usual.
The longer the racing hiatus goes on, the less likely it is that Royal Ascot will be able to stage their two-year-old contests – an outcome that would blow the whole season apart.
However, once again Palmer remains stoic: “Their season wouldn’t really be in full swing anyway, as it really starts to kick on in May.
“If Royal Ascot is to go ahead in its normal slot and the two-year-old races are to be run as usual, then there will need to have been a significant number of two-year-old races run prior to it.
“Provided the lockdown is eased in May then we can start to race not long afterwards, which would give us five weeks to get the prep races in.
“In that respect, there is a definite chance we can run the two-year-old races at Royal Ascot.
“For the majority of Flat trainers, 50 percent of the string are two-year-olds, so it would be far better for everyone if these races could take place.
“Educating two-year-olds is about developing their strength and consequently I’ve had to ease off horses who might have lined up in the Brocklesby and other early-season races.
“With any luck we’ll see them on the track sooner rather than later.”
It’s not just Palmer’s race-planning that’s had to change.
Social distancing measures enforced by the government have meant a complete overhaul of training regimes.
He said: “I’ve shut the canteen in the yard and have restricted the time people have spent in close contact with each other.
“All trainers in Newmarket have been splitting up strings into smaller groups than usual and we’re lucky in that we can spread out across the Heath, so in that respect it’s still the same as before.
“It’s difficult not knowing exactly when we can run our horses but we are lucky in that we’re working outside and we can keep the horses fit.
“I’m generally in a fortunate position. I’ve been able to keep all my staff on payroll across the board.
“It’s not the same for everyone of course, but thankfully our routine hasn’t changed a huge amount.”
