11.04.2000	Photo By: Jeremy Lyverse
		Trainer Aidan O'Brien (left) and stable jockey Mick Kinane will try to re-write Kentucky Derby (GI) history with Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier's undefeated colt Johannesburg. The son of Hennessy made a surprise appearance in England on Mar. 20 for a workout over the Polytrack surface at Lingfield Race Course in Surrey.

Johannesburg Drills In Surrey; Lingfield "Derby Trial" A Go
By, Alastair Donald
International Racing Bureau

Johannesburg made a surprise visit to Lingfield on Mar. 20, when Aidan O'Brien brought over a plane load of his potential Classic stars for a mile canter around the Polytrack surface at the Surrey track.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) champion Johannesburg, unbeaten in seven starts last year, was ridden by Seamus Heffernan in the exercise, and accompanied by the older lead horse Shoal Creek, and Sir Alex Ferguson's Grand Criterium (Gr. I) winner Rock of Gibraltar. Shoal Creek took the trio along at a decent pace, with Heffernan settling Johannesburg comfortably in last place for the full circuit of the track.

Immediately afterwards, a second trio of horses, consisting of Sholokhov, winner of the Gran Criterium (Gr. I) in Italy in 2001, Hawk Wing, the current favourite for the 2000 Guineas (Gr. I) at Newmarket on May 4th and Epsom Derby (Gr. I), and Racing Post Trophy (Gr. I) runner-up Castle Gandolfo did an identical piece of exercise.

O'Brien , who watched the exercise at close quarters from a four-by four driving along the inner perimeter track, was delighted with the exercise. "The track was brilliant, absolutely first class, the jockeys said it rode beautifully," O'Brien said. "It's been hard to work them at home because of the wet weather, and the horses are a little behind in their fitness levels, so this was a speeding up process. The idea was to get them away from home, get bits of work into them and give them experience."

O'Brien was continuing to play his cards close to his chest, stressing that no absolutely firm plans have been made for his classic colts, and that all options are open. The presence of Rock of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing on the Polytrack raise the possibility that O'Brien might be represented in other legs of the Triple Crown.

"It's far too early to be talking about that," O'Brien said. "But these horses are there for all the races. If we are to have Kentucky Derby (GI) runners Johannesburg and Castle Gandolfo would be the most probable."

"All the three year olds are possible for the Gladness Stakes (Gr. III) at the Curragh, none of the trials are sorted out yet, and we'll make up our minds nearer the day."

Epson Derby (Gr. I) favourite Hawk Wing is widely expected to be aimed for the 2000 Guineas, and logic says that if Johannesburg is to contest the Kentucky Derby on May 4th, his prep race a month before is more likely to be at Lingfield over a mile on a surface with predictable going, rather than over seven furlongs on turf against three year olds and older horses on going that could be "good", "soft", "heavy" or worse.

"Kentucky Derby Trial" At Lingfield A Go -- The British Horseracing Board (BHB) gave its approval on the night of Mar. 20 for Lingfield to stage its proposed "Kentucky Derby Trial" race as planned.

The race will be run on Apr. 6th over one mile on Lingfield's Polytrack surface, according to Arena Leisure's Director of Racing, Ian Renton, and will carry a £50,000 purse (approximately $71,000 U.S.). The event will be sponsored by the Australian beer company Fosters and will be open to colts, fillies and geldings. Colts and geldings will carry 123 lbs.; fillies will tote 118 lbs.

If Johannesburg runs in the race, he would carry a three pound weight penalty (126 lbs.) as a group one winner. Post time for the race has yet to be announced.

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