Master of Hounds Pointed to Belmont Stakes

Ballydoyle-owned Master of Hounds (Kingmambo) acquitted himself well on Kentucky Derby day and connections have decided to point him towards the third jewel of the American Triple Crown – the Belmont Stakes. Having shipped in less than a week before the Run for the Roses after a winter session at the Dubai Racing Carnival, Master of Hounds put in a fifth place performance at Churchill Downs and will remain in America for the time being.

Speaking to At The Races, conditioner Aidan O'Brien was pleased with Master of Hounds and how he came out of the race. “We were delighted with his performance. Garrett felt he ran a lovely race and had a good position,” he also pointed to the lack of pace towards the middle portion of the Derby as the reason why Master of Hounds lacked his characteristic late kick. “He just got into a little bit of trouble and would have preferred the pace to be stronger.”

The Preakness Stakes is set to run at Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland on May 21 and it looks to be coming too soon for the three-year-old bay. The added distance and lengthy stretch at Belmont Park will certainly play to the type of trip that connections believe is necessary for Master of Hounds to grab a high-profile score.

Beaten by just a head at Meydan in the UAE Derby, Master of Hounds has been running at the highest level but is still just a maiden winner despite £335,064 in career earnings.

Prior to the running of the 137th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, Master of Hounds had never raced on dirt and obviously flashed enough quality for connections to keep him in America – which goes somewhat against the grain with most higher-profile foreign runners shipping in for big races and then heading home shortly afterwards.