Mandella considering Hollywood Gold Cup or Met Mile for Royal Ship

There is a Grade 1 race in the short-term future for Royal Ship, the winner of the John Shear Mile at Santa Anita last Sunday in his 2022 debut.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday that Royal Ship will be considered for the $400,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on May 30, or the $1 million Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 11.

Mandella said the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 30 is likely to arrive too soon.

“I doubt I’d run him back in the Californian,” Mandella said. “We’ll look at the Gold Cup, which would give him more time than we need probably. The Met Mile is a little bit interesting. We’ll see how tough it is. I’m looking at all those things.”

Owned by Siena Farm and Fox Hill Farms, the 6-year-old Royal Ship was second to Country Grammer in the 2021 Hollywood Gold Cup. Country Grammer won the Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 26.

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In the John Shear Mile, Royal Ship was always near the front, and pulled clear in the final furlong to win by five lengths under jockey Mike Smith.

Mandella said there are no immediate race plans for Forbidden Kingdom, who was last of six as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Forbidden Kingdom was diagnosed with swelling in his throat earlier this week, Mandella said.

The setback ended hopes for a start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7 for Forbidden Kingdom, the winner of two Grade 2 stakes earlier this year.

“We put him on antibiotics and a couple of different treatments,” Mandella said. “He’ll be getting a couple of weeks rest to heal. We’ll forget anything and get it right and figure out where to go.”

Sumter, the winner of two one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita this year, will miss an intended start in the Grade 2 American Turf, a $500,000 race for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs on May 7.

“He’s got a little wear and tear and I want to take a little time,” Mandella said. “We want to get him ready.”

Sumter won the Pasadena Stakes on Feb. 19 and the Singletary Stakes on April 2 for owners Ramona and Perry Bass. Mandella said Sumter will be pointed for the Del Mar summer meeting, which runs from July 22 to Sept. 11.

Mandella has one runner likely to race outside of California soon in Set Sail, a 3-year-old who won a maiden special weight race by an impressive 7 1/2 lengths at a mile on March 27 in his second start. Mandella said the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Belmont Park on May 14 is a possibility.