Master trainer, Aidan O’Brien, talked about some of his stable stars in today’s Racing Post. BETDAQ’s JOHN SHERIDAN takes a look at his main Guineas contenders.
Aidan O’Brien is undoubtedly one of the finest trainers we have seen for many years but this season has seen an incredibly slow start for the master of Ballydoyle.
From his army of 160 horses, O’Brien’s team have appeared to be not firing on any cylinders so far with just 6 winners coming from 92 runners and most surprisingly, not a single 2 Year Old winner so far this year.
Compare that to Dermot Weld who has had 16 winners so far or even against a smaller yard like that of Paul Deegan’s who has recorded 14 winners this year, something definitely looks amiss at Ballydoyle.
However, to discount A.P. O’Brien would be a foolish move and there is probably going to be nothing more certain than a complete revival of form as we come towards the start of the Classics.
In today’s Racing Post, O’Brien gives the lowdown on some of his top performers and with the first Classic just around the corner, we take a look at what Classic contenders he is most looking forward to over the next month. Inevitably, Australia is one of the main topics of conversation.
Having been favourite for quite some time for the 2,000 Guineas, Australia was usurped at the head of the market only last weekend following the breathtaking performance of Kingman in the Greenham Stakes, a performance that prompted O’Brien himself to comment on how impressed he was by the win.
Currently trading at 5.2 on BETDAQ, O’Brien reports Australia to be in good form ahead of his debut assignment in the Guineas; ‘’He has done well since last year and has a very relaxed way about him and a very high cruising speed. Everything is good with him and while his breeding suggests 1m2f and 1m4f will suit him well, he shows plenty of pace for a mile.
‘’I’ve said a lot about him, probably too much, and he has to go and prove himself now. But we think the world of him and we’re looking forward to getting his campaign started at Newmarket.’’
Another Guineas contender, War Command, 22.0 on BETDAQ, produced one of the most impressive 2 Year Old wins of 2013 when winning the Coventry at Royal Ascot. He closed out the season with a win in the Dewhurst at Newmarket but he is not certain to travel for the Guineas on May 3rd with a possible tilt at the French equivalent instead.
‘’He’s (War Command) being trained for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket although we have the Poule d’Essai Des Poulains as a possible alternative. He’s a very solid horse and seems adaptable in terms of ground, although good or quicker conditions are ideal for him.
‘’He showed a lot of speed when winning the Coventry so well and then battled well to win the Dewhurst, so we think 1 mile is going to suit him.’’
On the other side in the 1,000 Guineas, O’Brien’s challenge is spearheaded by Tapestry who he has marked out as one of his horses with ‘Star Quality’.
All three of her runs have come at The Curragh where she won a Group 2 and finished second behind Rizeena in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes last September. She was promoted to second on that occasion and, trading at 9.8 on BETDAQ, O’Brien says she is ready for the Newmarket challenge in a couple of weeks; ‘’She goes straight to Newmarket and we think she’ll go on and stay further than a mile. She’s done well since last season and came to hand quite early. We backed off her for a while but she’s going well and will be ready for the 1,000 Guineas.’’
His other charge is Bracelet who is trading at 15.5 on BETDAQ. Her form has not taken much of a hit having finished eighth in her debut, a Listed Race at Naas behind Sandiva. She then won a Maiden at Leopardstown before winning the Group 3 1,000 Guineas Trial at the same track at the end of March beaten the well regarded Balansiya.
Although O’Brien has a worry about her stamina, he is hoping that she turns into an Oaks Filly in time; ‘’She won the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial quite nicely and the plan is to send her for the 1,000 Guineas in Newmarket. She came out of the race well and will appreciate better ground than she had at Leopardstown.
‘’Hopefully she’ll make into an Oaks filly, although Joseph (O’Brien) isn’t sure she’ll get the 1m4f trip. That might not be a bad thing though.’’
With such an impressive record at the Guineas meeting, Aidan O’Brien is certainly the last trainer you would want to cross off your list. He won the 2,000 Guineas four times in the last 10 years and although only two wins in the 1,000 Guineas in the same period, both of those came in year’s when he won the both races.
Once again the Master of Ballydoyle looks to have another very strong challenge for the opening Classics of the season headed by the very impressive Australia.
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