Dubai Gold Cup winner Broome will take on six rivals as he attempts to give Aidan O’Brien a first victory in the Boodles Yorkshire Cup on Friday.
So far, the Group Two York marathon has eluded the master of Ballydoyle, but he possesses a strong hand on this occasion, having seen his Royal Ascot winner thrive for the step up to two miles at Meydan where he downed the reopposing Siskany close to the finish.
Hughie Morrison’s Quickthorn could only finish sixth on that occasion, but was an emphatic 14-length winner on his last visit to the Knavesmire when he claimed the Lonsdale Cup.
A seismic performance from Quickthorn who is relentless & remorseless as he hacks up in the £250,000 G2 @WbysHamilton Lonsdale Cup for Hughie Morrison pic.twitter.com/pFwjPqq3So
Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan was amongst the beaten horses then and will try to improve on last year’s third in this race, while Roger Varian’s St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov has Ascot Gold Cup aspirations and will be looking to confirm Doncaster form over Marco Botti’s Leger third Giavellotto.
A cast of 10 potentially smart fillies go to post for the Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes, where John and Thady Gosden’s Queen For You will attempt to build on a taking debut at Ascot.
Charlie Appleby’s Silver Lady also impressed on her racecourse bow, while similar sentiments apply to William Haggas’ Fakhama who triumphed at Newbury in April.
Silver Lady ridden by William Buick when winning at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)
Ralph Beckett’s Juliet Sierra brings Group One form and experience to the table, with Stormy Sea and Orchid Bloom two others of note.
The other Listed action is the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes that opens Friday’s card, and there could be could be plenty of pace on show as Newmarket one-two Persian Dreamer and Dorothy Lawrence lock horns once again.
The latter represents last year’s winning handler Karl Burke, who also runs Nottingham scorer Got To Love A Grey, while Persian Dreamer’s handler, Dominic Ffrench Davis, is double-handed as well with Treasure Storm, another last-time-out winner amongst the 10 declared.
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Ascot Gold Cup favourite Emily Dickinson is one of 11 who could line up in the Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes on Friday.
Having ended last season with a victory in the Loughbrown Stakes, the daughter of Dubawi returned with an emphatic five-length success in the Vintage Crop Stakes and is one of three in the mix for Aidan O’Brien in the York marathon alongside Bolshoi Ballet and Dubai Gold Cup champion Broome.
Also among the confirmations is Roger Varian’s St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov and recent Ormonde Stakes winner Hamish, while Quickthorn romped to victory on the Knavesmire in the Lonsdale Cup in the summer and could represent the in-form Hughie Morrison.
Eldar Eldarov on his way to winning the Cazoo St Leger Stakes at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)
There could be an interesting rematch in the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes with Newmarket one-two Persian Dreamer and Dorothy Lawrence in the 16 entries.
Dominic Ffrench Davis’ speedy daughter of Clayx got the upper hand on the Rowley Mile, but the Karl Burke-trained runner-up suffered plenty of trouble in running and will be attempting to turn the tables granted a clear passage.
Others of interest include William Haggas’ taking Windsor scorer Relief Rally and recent Lily Agnes winner Ziggy’s Phoenix who could attempt to quickly seal some valuable black type.
The other Listed action is the Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes and Juddmonte hold a strong hand with the improving Coppice and reappearing Juliet Sierra who was last seen finishing fifth in the Cheveley Park in September.
Radley Stakes winner Magical Sunset has already been seen twice this season and has match practice on her side, while Queen For You is one of three entries for John and Thady Gosden following an impressive debut at Ascot earlier this month.
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Favourite backers were made to sweat before eventually collecting their winnings as Point Lonsdale toughed out victory in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes at Chester.
Successful in four of his five juvenile starts two years ago, the Australia colt only made it to the racecourse once as a three-year-old, finishing down the field in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
However, having proved his talent remains intact with a comeback victory in the Group Three Alleged Stakes at the Curragh last month, he was a 5-6 shot to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a fourth Huxley Stakes win and he ultimately got the job done, albeit in workmanlike fashion.
It was not easy viewing for his supporters, with Ryan Moore rowing along in the saddle a long way from home in behind the pacesetting Poker Face.
But to his credit, Point Lonsdale kept responding to his rider’s urgings and after striking the front in the straight, he had enough in hand to see off the late charge of Mujtaba by a neck.
Moore said: “He was a good two-year-old who won a Listed race, a Group Three and a Group Two but he wasn’t around for most of last year.
Point Lonsdale after winning the Huxley Stakes at Chester (Neil Morrice/PA)
“It wasn’t very pretty, was it? He’s a real galloper and he probably hasn’t been round a tight track like this before.
“He’s only really been to the Curragh, Leopardstown and Ascot and he was just a bit unsure what to do with himself.
“Today’s race was well up to standard and the track didn’t suit him, but he has a great attitude to be fair to him and plenty of ability. It was a very good performance.”
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Point Lonsdale bids to add further riches to his stellar CV when he lines up in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes at Chester.
Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old has won five of his seven racecourse appearances, but has only been seen twice since his his high-class Juvenile days when he took four of his five starts and finished second to Native Trail in the Group One National Stakes.
A disappointing run in the 2000 Guineas was his sole outing at three, but he showed the fire still burns bright with a game success in the Alleged Stakes last month following a 351-day absence.
Point Lonsdale – last seen in the 2,000 Guineas @NewmarketRace – smartly picks up to claim the @thetotecom-sponsored Group Three Alleged Stakes @curraghrace 👀
The form of that victory over Visualisation got a boost when the runner-up landed the Mooresbridge Stakes recently and more success for Point Lonsdale here could pave the way for Group One assignments later this season.
O’Brien said: “He won in soft ground at the Curragh. That was his first time over a mile and a quarter and he got the trip well.
“We’ve been happy with him since and we think he’s ready for his next run now.”
Andrew Balding’s Foxes Tales was third in the Winter Derby behind Lord North in February and was last seen handing the useful Rogue Millennium a three-length beating to scoop the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.
Mujtaba returning after a comprehensive victory at Newbury (Neil Morrice/PA)
He now has his sights raised to Group Two level, while also taking a step up in class is William Haggas’ Mujtaba who has been forced into pattern company following a seven-length romp in a Newbury handicap in the autumn.
“He put up a very impressive performance in soft ground at Newbury and went up to 115, so this is a good starting point for him to get him going,” said Haggas.
“He likes the ground so hopefully he will run well. He’s won at Chester before but he’s also run poorly at Chester before, so we will see how we go.”
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Poker Face suffered the first defeat of his career when second in the Earl of Sefton Stakes on reappearance, but the form of that race was given a timely boost when the winner Ottoman Fleet scored at Belmont last weekend and connections are confident there is still more to come from Fastnet Rock gelding.
Poker Face ridden by jockey James Doyle on their way to winning at Pontefract (Mike Egerton/PA)
“He’s lightly raced and he ran a very good race in the Earl of Sefton for his first run back of the year,” said Ed Crisford.
“This race is another step up in class, but he has come out of Newmarket well and has been training well.
“He has a good draw and the ground should suit. He’s in good form and although it is a big step up for him, I’m sure he has a lot more improvement in him.
“He’s only had four runs in his life and is still a baby really and still learning. I think with racing experience he should be improving all the time and is an exciting horse for the future.
“This is another step up and there are some very good horses in there, but he has had his first run of the year now and I’m hopeful he will run a very good race.”
Six go to post for the Group Two contest with Roger Varian’s Royal Champion and Noel Meade’s Layfayette completing the field.
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Father beat son in the Boodles Dee Stakes as Aidan O’Brien’s San Antonio repelled the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Alder at Chester.
Alder was the 11-10 favourite for the Listed contest following an impressive start to his season at Cork, with San Antonio sent off at 16-5 following victory on the all-weather at Dundalk.
As is usually the case, Ryan Moore had San Antonio well positioned throughout, allowing his mount to stride to the front while his rivals jostled for position in behind.
Gavin Ryan delivered Alder with a major challenge rounding the home turn, but San Antonio refused to yield in front and passed the post with a length and three-quarters in hand to give O’Brien a 10th victory in the race.
O’Brien said: “Donnacha’s horse ran a stormer having got dropped back in a messy race. But Ryan had his horse in a better position and was able to control the race.
“We were always going to ride him forward. He’s nice and relaxed and was happy to have horses around him, and he found plenty.
“Obviously it looks like he’s adaptable and will get further. Epsom has to be looked at as well as Ascot and France. The lads will decide.”
Betfair and Paddy Power halved the Dubawi colt to 25-1 for the Betfred Derby, for which O’Brien’s 2000 Guineas disappointment Auguste Rodin remains favourite with some firms in company with Arrest and Military Order.
O’Brien added: “We’ve always thought the world of Auguste Rodin as everything came so easily to him. He’s come out of the Guineas well and will go to straight for the Derby.
“With the Lingfield trial now on the all-weather Bertinelli will go there. The horse we would have run at Lingfield (Gooloogong) might go to Epsom and Continuous heads for the Dante at York.”
Alder (left) just failed (David Davies/PA)
O’Brien junior has not lost faith in the runner-up.
He said: “The race was a bit of a mess and in ground I didn’t think he would like I actually think he ran very well. He quickened up nicely then just flattened out in that ground, but I was very happy with him.
“We’ll take him home and see how he comes out of it and make a plan then. For sure he could go to one of the Derbys either Epsom or the Curragh or something like that, but we’ll make a plan at a later stage.
“You have very little chance from out back when they go that slow, but that’s racing and that’s Chester.”
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Savethelastdance waltzed her way to clear Betfred Oaks favouritism with an emphatic display in the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks.
Ridden patiently at the rear of the cluster by Ryan Moore as Pam Sly’s Wintercrack led the field along, the daughter of Galileo still had plenty of work to do as Charlie Johnston’s Sirona went to tackle the front-running Wintercrack with just over three furlongs to run.
As Sirona moved to the head of the pack, Moore was making significant headway aboard the 8-11 favourite and when the Ballydoyle number one pressed the button on drawing alongside Sirona she soon left the opposition trailing in her wake to register a bloodless 22-length success in rain-softened ground.
It was Aidan O’Brien’s eighth success in the Listed event to become the most successful trainer in the Roodee feature, one ahead of Barry Hills whom he was previously locked on seven with.
Savethelastdance, meanwhile, is out of Daddys Lil Darling who famously bolted to post and was withdrawn from Enable’s Oaks in 2017, but it is hoped her daughter will fare better on the Surrey Downs with Betfair going 2-1 from 5-1 for the Epsom Classic on June 2, while Paddy Power go even shorter and make her the 13-8 favourite.
Riding his sixth winner of the race, Moore said: “I was very impressed, you can only be impressed by what she’s done there.
“They kind of all gave up with half a mile to go and she was just getting going, but she gave me a very good feel – she’s probably given me as good a feel in this race as the ones I’ve ridden (in it before).
“She stepped a little slow, but they went very hard early on and she just relaxed and followed them round.
“I thought I’d just make sure she knew what she had to do and she stretched all the way to the line and ran right through the line.”
O’Brien watched on from his Ballydoyle base – and was pleased with what he saw.
“We were delighted with her,” he said. “Obviously we were delighted with her in her maiden and we’ve been delighted with her since.
“Obviously it’s unusual for them to win that far, but she’s a very well-bred filly.
“She handled the ground well. I think it was soft enough the first day she won as well.
“I think she will (handle quicker ground). She’s a good moving filly, a big rangy filly and I think Ryan was very happy with her as well.
“That (Epsom) is the plan.”
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Aidan O’Brien loves the Cheshire Oaks, having saddled the winner on no less than seven occasions in the last 14 renewals.
He sends Savethelastdance to the Roodee on Wednesday as the hot favourite for the Weatherbys Digital Solutions-sponsored race, which is a notable Classic trial.
The Galileo filly – who is shading ante-post favouritism for the Oaks itself – was a little green on her juvenile debut at Thurles in October, when finishing fifth to the more experienced Foniska, yet she clearly thrived over the winter and defeated better-fancied stablemate Boogie Woogie in comfortable fashion at Leopardstown on her reappearance in heavy ground a month ago.
Though she was a 20-1 shot that day, jockey Ryan Moore feels the form looks solid and she steps into Listed company with a ringing endorsement.
“I haven’t ridden her in a race yet, but I saw the back of her as she beat me on Boogie Woogie in some style over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown last month and the runner-up won well for me at Naas afterwards,” Moore told his Betfair blog.
“That victory was a massive step up from her debut effort at two, but there was no fluke about it and this beautifully-bred Galileo filly out of a Grade One winner in the States is clearly an exciting prospect.
“It was heavy at Leopardstown but the expected better ground here should be fine, though rain is due all week I see, so it may be testing by race time.”
The Charlie Johnston-trained Sirona won twice in four starts as a juvenile, including a Listed seven-and-a-half-furlong race at Cologne in September. Like Luckin Brew, William Buick’s mount takes a big step up from a mile to an extended mile and three furlongs for the first time, having disappointed in the same Pontefract race.
Good filly klaxon!
Sirona, a daughter of Soldier Hollow, looks a very useful juvenile for @Johnston_Racing after hosing up in the Keith Walker Never Change Your Mind EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes @Beverley_Races on debut. 👇
Owner Jayne McGivern said: “She has wintered really well. She is working well at home and is bred for distance and we were surprised at how well she had done as a two-year-old over a mile. We kind of were not expecting that.
“This will tell us a lot about her. She had a fantastic page when I bought her, she’s not overly big, but her confirmation’s great and she surprised us how good she was and she got black type. I think the Silver Tankard (Pontefract) was a race too far as she had a few races in quick succession.
“We had her entered in the Pretty Polly and that was the original plan, but we were worried about the ground. Mark and Charlie (Johnston) preferred the Chester race anyway.
“It is a bit of a tall order, we have thrown her in a bit at the deep end, but on the other hand, if she is good enough, she’ll be fine.
“She has entries in the Oaks and Ribblesdale, and is also in the German Oaks, and you might think about York.”
Co-trainers Freddie (left) and father Martyn Meade have high hopes for Ashtanga (Mike Egerton/PA)
Connections of Ashtanga are hoping the extra distance will see her build on her two starts as a two-year-old, which included a maiden success at Nottingham over an extended mile.
Trained by Martyn and Freddie Meade, the daughter of Nathaniel will be ridden by Oisin Murphy on her three-year-old debut.
Freddie Meade said: “We are very pleased with her. She did nothing wrong last year. She was a real shell of a filly and all she has done is improve over the winter.
“Oisin has come and sat on her a couple of times and I think he shares the same enthusiasm for her this year. Hopefully the step up in trip will eke more improvement and hopefully she will have an exciting year.
“I think Chester will suit her. She is very balanced and she ran well at Salisbury first time out, which can find them out a little bit.
“I think we have the Oaks as the idea for her. Why not throw her in at the deep end and see how we get on.”
Cite d’Or is the most experienced in the field, having already had 10 runs, four of them since the turn of the year.
Having wintered in Dubai, where she was beaten over 15 lengths by subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Mawj, she returned to England and was a close-up third to colts Epictetus and Hadrianus in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom.
Trainer Harry Eustace said: “She really ran well last time and certainly got back on track from her last couple of runs last year, so that was nice to see.”
“We saw Mawj from a distance in Meydan and in hindsight, the race programme just wasn’t there and she clearly needs a trip.
“As soon as we got her back on soft ground over a trip, she came right back to form. She ran well at Epsom last year, so that helps.
“The thinking is she might like idiosyncratic tracks. It just seems to keep her more interested than others, and this is a furlong and a half further, which is a positive.
“We have put cheekpieces on for the first time. She didn’t really travel that well early on at Epsom, so Pierre just managed to keep tabs on her and then she ran well after. At Chester, it would be harder to do if she didn’t travel, so we are just trying to make Pierre’s life easier.
“We are quite exposed in comparison. Everyone likes the potential of something, whereas we are showing that we are a genuine 100-rated horse at a mile and a quarter and if the extra furlong and a half brings a little bit more out, then I think we can be very competitive in that race.
“We like the ground, and are hoping there will be a bit of rain.”
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Aidan O’Brien has won the Qipco 1000 Guineas five times in the last seven years and the master of Ballydoyle will go in search of his eighth victory overall in the Newmarket Classic with Breeders’ Cup heroine Meditate.
A regular in the big races last term, the daughter of No Nay Never won the Albany at Royal Ascot and a Group Two at the Curragh before finishing second behind reopposing duo Tahiyra and Lezoo in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Cheveley Park respectively.
Then came Meditate’s moment of truth at Keeneland when she put herself in the 1000 Guineas picture by triumphing on her first try at a mile.
“We weren’t sure, going to America, whether she would stay or not and it was on a bend. We took our time on her, it was her first time going over a mile and she won very easily,” said O’Brien.
“We ran her over seven (furlongs) at the Curragh on soft ground and we rode her very forward. She ran a very good race, but Dermot’s filly came and got her so we went to America.
“Obviously it was up in trip again, Ryan (Moore) took his time on her and she relaxed lovely, but came home very well. That’s going to be an interesting one, there’s a big difference in the track in America – a flat, round track – and a straight track like Newmarket.
“We’re going to learn a lot about her, she’s a very lazy worker at home who only shows you what she has to. Unless you stoke her up she just stays in second gear really, but we’re very happy with her work.”
One man to briefly halt O’Brien’s recent dominance is Richard Hannon with Billesdon Brook in 2018 and he is double-handed this time with Mammas Girl and Powerdress.
Mammas Girl ridden by jockey Sean Levey on their way to winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)
Mammas Girl landed the Nell Gwyn last month and although unproven over a mile, is unbeaten in two starts at the track.
“She obviously won the Nell Gwyn and is unbeaten,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager at Amo Racing.
“She goes there having won twice at the track and some experts have said she is not going to get the trip, but I disagree. In her two starts, her last furlong has been her best and she has hit the line strong both times. She’s a relaxed and laid-back filly and I really don’t see the mile being an issue.
“She will be held up and ridden patiently to come with one late run like she has done both times. She’s just ticked over since the Nell Gwyn and Richard is very happy with her.
“To go there with a leading contender is really exciting and she goes there with a good chance.”
Amo also have a useful second string to their bow with Olivia Maralda, who will make her first start for Roger Varian.
“She’s not a bad second string to have and I think she is too big a price if you think she ran Meditate to three-quarters of a length in Ireland last year,” continued Pennington.
“She hasn’t missed a day with Roger and he’s really pleased with her. Whether she is good enough to win, who knows, but she goes there in good form.”
Ralph Beckett hit the crossbar with Prosperous Voyage in this 12 months ago and along with owners Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen will attempt to go one better with Lezoo – who will be a final 1000 Guineas ride for Frankie Dettori.
“We thought about a trial, but she’s pretty experienced and she’s not a filly who needs a race,” said Beckett ahead of the Qipco British Champions Series contest.
Lezoo winning the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (David Davies/PA)
“We decided it was likely to prove inconclusive with regards to her stamina, and that it made more sense to run her in the Guineas and find out for sure one way or another, then drop her back to sprints if she didn’t stay. She’s had a pretty straightforward preparation and she’s ready for this. She did her last bit on the grass on Tuesday and that went well.”
The handler is also represented by Fred Darling scorer Remarquee, who will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Beckett’s first Classic winner Look Here and land big-race success for owner Julian Richmond-Watson.
He continued: “Remarquee is the obvious one. She didn’t really get the run of the race and Rob (Hornby) dropped his stick with half a furlong to run, yet she still won with one ear pricked, having wandered around. She’ll have learned a lot.
“We’ve been here before, having won a few Fred Darlings, and it can be tough getting a filly back in time for the Guineas, but all of the signs are good. She didn’t have a hard race and I’m very happy with her.”
Hugo Palmer’s Stenton Glider had to settle for the silver medal behind Remarquee at Newbury and will now attempt to turn the tables as the duo move up to a mile.
Still unbeaten! 👀
Remarquee comes home strongly despite still looking green to land the Fred Darling @NewburyRacing on just her second career start for @RalphBeckett.
Were you impressed? She's been slashed into as short as 6/1 (from 16s) for the 1,000 Guineas. pic.twitter.com/kLcfc6lmGr
He said: “She’s in great form. I just flicked through the 21st century winners of the 1000 Guineas and from what I can see, 10 of the winners had trialled and only four of those winners who trialled had actually won their trial.
“More horses have been beaten in their trial than won their trial.
“She was beaten two-foot at Newbury and so we’re going to give it a very good go.”
Also beaten in her trial was Clive Cox’s Nell Gwyn fourth Karsavina.
“I’m really pleased with her and she’s a progressive filly,” said Cox.
“The Nell Gwyn was precisely as it was intended as a trial and I feel she has come back really well from there.
“An extra furlong will be most helpful. She has a lot of class and moved up well through the race in the Nell Gwyn and I’m looking forward to seeing her going another furlong.”
One horse proven over the track and trip is Caernarfon, winner of the Montrose Fillies’ Stakes last autumn.
That victory was the perfect way for Mick Channon to bow out – while it would prove fitting if she kick-started the training career of his son Jack on her very next start.
“She is in great form and trained really well all winter and her work, touch wood, has been perfect. I think we’ve got her exactly where we want her and it will be down to simply whether she is good enough now,” said the West Ilsley handler.
“I always thought she had plenty of experience. It is not like she’s won her maiden and that’s all there is. She had a decent amount of experience as a two-year-old, she won over course and distance last time and she is not a filly who is too hard to get fit.
“She looks to have improved and she is not the most imposing type, but she is very athletic and I could not be any happier with her at this moment in time.”
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Aidan O’Brien acknowledges it is “possible” the mile of the Qipco 2000 Guineas will be too short for hot favourite Auguste Rodin.
O’Brien is also represented in the opening Classic of the season by Little Big Bear, who is second-favourite, as the Ballydoyle maestro bids to add to his record 10 victories in the Newmarket showpiece.
The 53-year-old last won the prize in 2019 with Magna Grecia and has never had more than four successive years without a victory in the race since he first struck with King Of Kings in 1998.
Auguste Rodin is considered a Triple Crown contender, with the Derby and the St Leger on the radar. He won his previous three starts, including the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October.
Like Little Big Bear, winner of the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, he will make his seasonal bow.
However, there are trip questions for both horses, with Little Big Bear untested beyond six and a half furlongs and Ryan Moore’s mount, Auguste Rodin, potentially finding a mile too sharp.
“It is possible that the mile will be too short for him,” admitted O’Brien. “We don’t know really. We are happy with what he has done and what he is doing at the moment.
“He is a horse who has loads of class. We are going to learn a lot about him and he’s going to learn a lot. We are looking forward to him.
“He’s a horse who has always shown plenty of class in all his work from very early on. Ryan sat on him in February or March as a two-year-old and he loved him then. He was showing loads then and it is usually a good sign.
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien bid for more glory at Newmarket on Saturday (Nigel French/PA)
“I suppose we had to see what his work was like and if anyone wasn’t happy at any step along the road, then he might not have run in the Guineas. But everything is good.”
O’Brien has no qualms about the pair taking each other on, as it is a tried and tested formula for Coolmore-owned horses in the Classic.
He is also not ruling out the possibility of a repeat of 2002, where Rock Of Gibraltar upset stablemate and favourite Hawk Wing when the pair finished first and second.
“We are lucky. So far, they have come through the winter well and they have taken their training well in the spring up until now,” O’Brien added.
“It was always a possibility it (a clash) was going to happen. They have two different profiles. Obviously they will probably go their separate ways after this race.
“I suppose Auguste Rodin will probably move up in trip, definitely.
Little Big Bear tries a mile for the first time in the colts’ Classic (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)
“I would imagine it will tell us a lot about Little Big Bear, whether he is going to stay a mile or go back. It is going to be very interesting and informative for us.”
Given the ground was very soft on his last run, any rain would appear to enhance Auguste Rodin’s chance. Yet O’Brien feels the son of Deep Impact will appreciate quicker conditions than when trouncing subsequent Epsom Blue Riband Trial winner Epictetus by three and a half lengths on Town Moor.
“We were a little bit surprised by Auguste Rodin at Doncaster,” he conceded. “We were a little bit worried about running him in that type of ground – the ground got soft that day and he is a beautiful-moving horse and definitely not a soft-ground horse. That’s why we were delighted.”
Asked if he could split Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear if they turned up on top form, O’Brien said: “Auguste Rodin is going to get the trip – we’ve seen that before. Little Big Bear hasn’t run near this distance at all and obviously two furlongs is a long way in a horse race. He’s only run over six (furlongs).
“If you put them together, you don’t know. Both of them are doing most of their work over seven furlongs and it looks lovely for both.
“Little Big Bear is getting home and he seems to be covering the last furlong well. We haven’t gone any further and obviously the other horse gallops through the line, which we expect him to be doing anyway. It is going to be a very interesting race, really.
“Little Big Bear is by No Nay Never, who is a big influence for speed. Joseph (O’Brien) won with a No Nay Never over a mile and a quarter in the week in a Group Two, so that’s been very encouraging to see at least that can happen.
“Until you see it, you are never sure. He’s out of a mare that it could happen, but he is by No Nay Never and he is a quick horse.”
Moore, who is such a major cog in the Ballydoyle operation, seeks a third win, following success aboard the O’Brien-trained Gleneagles in 2015 and Churchill in 2017.
He sticks with Auguste Rodin, although concedes it would be no surprise to see Little Big Bear (Wayne Lordan) take the laurels.
“We have two very good horses in here, but two very different horses, and they will be going down very different paths after this race,” Moore reported on his Betfair blog.
“I’ll start with Little Big Bear. After what he did in the Phoenix Stakes at two – that was quite a stunning win – he deserves to run in this Classic rather than in Ireland or France, as Newmarket will tell us a lot more about him and where he will be heading afterwards.
“He clearly has a lot of pace but I personally think he will stay a mile, and that makes him a very dangerous rival to all, including my mount Auguste Rodin.
“We haven’t seen Little Big Bear since that Curragh win in August but he has been going well.
“There are no stamina concerns with Auguste Rodin obviously, and he will probably be heading up in trip after this, and he is a horse we have always loved from day one as a juvenile and he fulfilled those expectations with his Doncaster win.
“He is an exciting prospect for the season, but hopefully for the here and now, too. But would it surprise me if Little Big Bear beat him? Not really.
“They are the two best horses in here and the others have to reach, and maybe surpass, their current level, and hopefully they are drawn in the right place in 12 and 13.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2.69405572-1-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-05-05 15:48:002023-05-05 15:48:00Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear give O’Brien very strong Guineas hand
Ante-post favourite Auguste Rodin heads 14 colts declared for Saturday’s Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien rates the Deep Impact colt as a possible Triple Crown contender at this stage, with Auguste Rodin – the mount of Ryan Moore – having won three of his four starts to date, including the Group One Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October.
O’Brien also fields Phoenix Stakes victor Little Big Bear (Wayne Lordan), winner of four of his five runs and last year’s top-rated European juvenile with a mark of 124.
Chaldean will be ridden by Frankie Dettori (Mike Egerton/PA)
Chaldean heads the home defence with Andrew Balding’s charge bidding to give Frankie Dettori victory in the mile Classic in what is the rider’s final season before retirement.
The duo won the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs on the Rowley Mile last term, but Dettori was unshipped coming out of the stalls on his return in last month’s Greenham at Newbury.
Royal Scotsman was beaten just a head by Chaldean in the Dewhurst and he reopposes for Paul and Oliver Cole, while Sakheer is a leading contender for Roger Varian after winning the Mill Reef last term.
Varian also fields Greenham runner up Charyn, with Charlie Appleby another who is double-handed with narrow Breeders’ Cup runner-up Silver Knott and Noble Style, who has been off the track since winning the Gimcrack last season.
Indestructible won the Craven Stakes at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)
Karl Burke runs Craven Stakes victor Indestructible along with Futurity third Holloway Boy, with outsider Flight Plan making it a triple challenge from the Middleham handler.
Charlie Johnston saddles his first Classic runner in his sole name as Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Mile takes his chance, while Kevin Ryan’s longshot Hi Royal completes a strong Yorkshire challenge.
Charlie Hills’ Galeron completes the line up, with only the O’Brien-trained Cairo not declared.
