Frank Gillespie's dual Group 1 winner The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) has joined trainer Dermot Weld ahead of the 2017 racing season. The now 6-year-old was previously trained by Kevin Ryan, for whom he won the 2014 G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Irish Champion S. The Grey Gatsby has not won since the latter contest, when he upset the dual Derby winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), but he hit the board in four Group 1s in 2015: the Dubai Turf, the Prince of Wales's S.–
behind the Weld-trained Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire})–the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International. The Grey Gatsby's best effort in five outings last year was a second behind Big Orange (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) in the G2 Princess of Wales's S., and he was last seen finishing fifth in the G1 Champion S. Oct. 15.
“He has been a grand horse and perhaps he has been unlucky a few times,” said Weld. “We beat him by a short head one day in Royal Ascot with Free Eagle and sometimes the ground didn't go his way. He just needs a bit of luck.”
Gillespie has a filly in training with Weld named Tilly Trotter (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and she won two of her five starts last year as a 2-year-old.
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