ROBERT Havlin appears optimistic ahead of Ambiente Friendly’s expected return to action in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby next Sunday.

“He seems to have come out of the Epsom race even more relaxed than he went into it,” Havlin said of the James Fanshawe-trained colt. “He's growing up the whole time, and each race he's had has been a progression afterwards and not a regression. He's learning something and taking something from it.”

Reflecting on his fine performance in defeat, Havlin continued: “He nearly over-raced a tad up the hill at Epsom but it helped him get a good position. I was mindful of that coming down the hill, the winner just stayed that much better.”

Ambiente Friendly, of course, claimed runners-up honours in the classic, finishing two and three quarter lengths behind the impressive City Of Troy. Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victor Los Angeles was another three and a quarter lengths further back in third and will reoppose in the Irish Derby on June 30th.

Al Shira'aa Farms

Ambiente Friendly currently heads the betting for the Curragh showpiece at 5/4, with Los Angeles close behind at 6/4. The son of Gleneagles is owned by the Gredley family, but holds an Irish connection via breeder Al Shira’aa Farms.

Based at Meadow Court Stud, Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s thoroughbred operation bred the bay out of the well-rated Roxity, who won her sole career start at Saint-Cloud. The Irish Derby favourite was sold via Ian McCarthy’s Grangecoor Farm at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale to Freddy Tylicki for 80,000gns.