Condon eyes future Success

Ken Condon says Success Days is on course to return before the end of the season following injury.

The three-year-old produced an uncharacteristically sluggish performance in last month’s Epsom Derby, coming home last in a field of 12 runners with subsequent tests showing he had suffered a stress fracture.

It marked a blow for the colt’s progress following his earlier impressive wins in both the Ballysax and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trials at Leopardstown.

However, after a few weeks of rest, Condon says the three-year-old is recovering well and is hopeful he will be able to run before his main target for the end of the season, October’s QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot.

“He’s recuperating well and we’re very optimistic we’ll have him back for the autumn,” the County Kildare handler said. “He’ll start off swimming and hopefully he’ll be back cantering the first week in August.

“We’ve entered him for the QIPCO Champion Stakes and if the ground is anything like it has been the last few years, that would suit him well. We’d love to get a run in beforehand and hopefully we will.

“He’s a horse we’re looking forward to as a four-year-old when he’d have a spring and autumn campaign again.”