Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win has date in Qatar Derby

Tip Two Win will seek more riches in Doha. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Tip Two Win, who helped provide a feelgood factor in the QIPCO British Champions Series last year, is being prepared for an imminent return to Doha for a tilt at the Qatar Derby this month.

Roger Teal’s stable star enjoyed a profitable spell in the Middle East last winter, earning more than £150,000 in prize-money with lucrative victories in a conditions race and a Listed contest.

On his return to Britain the son of Dark Angel ran a fantastic race to fill the runner-up spot behind Saxon Warrior in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before placing fourth in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He finished a disappointing last of 12 runners when joint-favourite for the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on his latest appearance in late July, but Teal is pleased with his charge ahead of his comeback.

He said: “He’s in good form and the plan is to take him to Doha in two weeks for the Derby.

“The plan is for him to fly out on December 15 and the race is on December 22. It’s a mile and a quarter race, so he’ll be stepping up in trip, but he likes Doha and the flat track – if he’s going to get a mile and a quarter he’ll get it there.

“He’s been working well at home. We would have liked to get a prep run into him, but there aren’t really any suitable races and we’ll probably take him to Kempton next week for a gallop.”

Reflecting on his eclipse at Goodwood, the trainer added: “I think he was just a bit jaded, to be honest. He’d obviously been to Doha during the winter and then had hard races in the Guineas and at Royal Ascot.

“He maybe didn’t handle the track at Goodwood and the ground was a bit dead and he had a wide draw, but more than anything I think it was one run too many and he was just a bit over the top.

“We’ve freshened him up, we’re looking forward to going to Doha with him and hopefully that will set him up for a good season next year.”