Teal has high hopes for Oxted – next season

Oxted could try his hand in better company next year after this victory in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster

Roger Teal has decided to draw stumps for the season with Oxted following his victory in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster.

The Hungerford trainer is hoping the lightly-raced three-year-old will develop into a smart sprinter next term.

The dream is the July Cup if Oxted proves good enough to earn his place in the six-furlong showpiece at Newmarket in the summer.

“He’s doing well, but I think we’re going to wrap him up for the season,” said Teal.

“He had a tough race in the Portland, so we decided not to be greedy and wait for next season with him.

“The ground has gone soft now, so we decided to rough him off for the winter and we’ll concentrate on next year.

“You don’t want to go to the well too often.

You want to save something in the tank for next year.

That’s the plan.

”

Oxted has done enough to fuel Teal’s big-race hopes when he returns.

“He’s off a mark of 109, so he’s going to be in Pattern company next year,” he added.

“I’d like to have a crack at the July Gold Cup with him if he progresses as a four-year-old,” he said.

“That would be our pipe-dream.

“Sprinters can bridge the gap.

You just need a bit of luck on the day.

“If he matures like I think he (will) then he’s going to be a better horse next year.

We’re not a million miles away.

I’m not saying it’s his target – it’s a dream if he progresses.

“We’ll find out when we bring him back in the spring.

”

Teal intends, meanwhile, to give his Salisbury debut winner Kenzai Warrior an exploratory workout on turf to see how he handles the rain-softened ground.

The form of his victory looks good, with several horses who finished behind him going on to win subsequently.

“The form of that race has worked out super,” said Teal.

“I’m going to work him on the grass at Lambourn.

Jason (Watson) is coming to ride him.

We’ll see how he handles that softer surface.

”

Teal will be surprised if Kenzai Warrior does not adapt well to changing conditions.

He added: “I’m sure he’ll go on it – he’s got quite a high knee action.

“It all depends on how Jason feels he is in his work, and we’ll be guided by that.

“We’ll probably go down the novice route.

I want to see how he works on the grass first.

“He’s an exciting horse to go forward with, that’s for sure.

“There are no firm plans.

We’ll see how he works on the grass.”

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