A fascinating runner appeared in the provisional entries for York’s Dante meeting next month. The Roger Teal-trained Oxted was last seen in 2021 when third to Starman, now a successful stallion, in Group 1 July Cup.
The son of Mayson was a dual Group 1 winner in his pomp, landing the 2020 July Cup and the 2021 King’s Stand. Despite being retired to injury, connections have made the decision to return him to the track. Teal said on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, via Sporting Life: “He’s been off the track since 2021 and he’s been my wife’s hack for the last two years. He still shows the enthusiasm that he did many years ago. So I crazily said we should give him a chance back on the track.
“We put him back into training and he’s still showing the same enthusiasm that he ever did. I might be mad, I don’t know. I just think he loves being a racehorse and I think he deserves another crack.
“He doesn’t want to be a happy hacker, he wants to be a racehorse – he tells you that himself” – Roger Teal
It’s very rare for a horse to return after such a layoff, not least a Group 1 winner. The Last Lion is one of he more recent examples. He went to stud after winning the 2016 Middle Park, siring a whole host of winners. However after fertility issues, he was gelded in June 2021 and returned from 1876 days off the track at Lingfield.
Team continued to explain the decision: “I describe him as a vintage car, one careful owner, and we’re very low mileage. We just want to see if he still retains the ability that he did have. We decided to retire him but once he got over his injuries he has come back like a bullock. He doesn’t want to be a happy hacker, he wants to be a racehorse – he tells you that himself.
“He has always enjoyed what he does. He enjoys his work, he’s very enthusiastic, he’s a sprinter who likes to get on with things.”
Connections already have grand plans for him, though have stressed they will only race him if he’s able to reproduce his previous form.
“At the moment he’s telling us the right things so we made the entry” Teal said. He probably will run before York. There’s the Palace House at Newmarket, the Abernant – that might come too soon. The goal is the July Cup again and the King’s Stand.
“We’re in no doubt he’ll need his first run, but won’t judge him on that. He’s not a handicapper, he’s a Group horse. We won’t run him unless we think he can maintain that standard.”