Kentucky Derby winner takes shot at unique race run on frozen lake

12 February 2024 , 14:30

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Horses racing on the frozen lake at St Moritz during the White Turf Meeting (Image: R WALCH)

A racehorse owner who fulfilled a life’s dream by winning the Kentucky Derby has his sights set on another of the world’s unique horse races.

Ramiro Restrepo, from Miami in Florida, was the co-owner of Mage who triumphed in the US Classic at Churchill Downs in 2023.

He is now the owner of British-trained Cumulonimbus who will contest the £90,000 Grosser Preis von St Moritz, the feature race of the White Turf meeting which is run on the resort’s frozen lake. on Sunday.

The horse, who is trained by George Baker, was bought by champion jockey William Buick’s brother Martin for £157,000 last year.

“We are very excited for this new adventure,” said Restrepo. “This has been the plan since Martin Buick bought him for us at Tattersalls in October.

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“The Grosser Preis von St Moritz is a unique race and George Baker knows how to win it. We just can’t wait to get there now and see Cumulonimbus do his thing. We’d love to win it!.”

Baker, who trains in Chiddingfold, Surrey, has enjoyed success at St Moritz in the past and won the famous meeting’s big race in 2020. Speaking to Great British Racing International, he said: “St Moritz has been a part of our racing plans for many years.

“We won with a horse called Ancient Greece around ten years ago. He won at all three race meetings on the White Turf which was the first time any horse had ever done that.

“We then went back a few years ago with Wargrave who managed to win the Grosser Preis von St Moritz, which was a great thrill.”

Cumulonimbus: will run on the frozen lake at St Moritz (Great British Racing International)

Cumulonimbus will be joined by Royal Ascot-placed stablemate Cenhaan in the line-up.

“Cemhaan has always been a quality performer in the UK’” he said. “Cumulonimbus is a new addition to the team.

"He is a horse that my wife Candida and I loved when we saw him at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in October but he went for 150,000 guineas so we thought he was gone on to other pastures.

“But we were called that night by Ramiro Restrepo. Ramiro had noted our exploits on the frozen lake at St Moritz and the call was a lovely one to get as it was to ask us if were interested to train the horse and prepare him for St Moritz.

“It's a great thrill to have owners like this on board. The syndicate that Ramiro and his other partners have put together comprises big names in American racing including trainers, bloodstock agents and farm owners across Kentucky and elsewhere in the USA.

“It is a wonderful contingent of racing minds and there is going to be over 80 of them flying over to make the most of the White Turf experience."

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