Tag Archive for: Aidan O’Brien

‘Special’ Auguste Rodin just one to look forward to for Moore

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Ryan Moore has high hopes Qipco 2000 Guineas and Betfred Derby favourite Auguste Rodin will go on and prove himself as a “special” horse.

Since finishing second on his debut the Deep Impact colt won his maiden before taking a Group Two on Irish Champions Weekend and signing off for the season in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

“He’s obviously a very exciting horse, he should be unbeaten but we missed the first day. Apart from that, he’s done everything right, every start and the Vertem Futurity wasn’t a straightforward race, but he did everything right and showed a good attitude,” said Moore on the Betfair Betting Podcast.

“I think he beat a fair horse, the horse of (John and Thady) the Gosdens (Epictetus) and I think he’s going to be a better horse this year again. Obviously, he’s by Deep Impact out of Rhododendron.

“He ticks all the boxes, he’s a real good moving horse and has a beautiful rhythm. So we’re looking forward to this season.”

Despite being as low as 5-2 for the Guineas, Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien have always viewed him as more of a Derby type.

“We always thought that’s what he was, he got an awful lot of class and hopefully he’s a special horse,” said Moore.

“I don’t think he’s going to struggle for pace (in the Guineas). He’s got plenty of speed, his dam won a Lockinge. There’s plenty of pace there. He’s moving beautifully at the moment and seems to be in a good place.”

Little Big Bear spreadeagled his rivals in the Phoenix Stakes
Little Big Bear spreadeagled his rivals in the Phoenix Stakes (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Second-favourite for the Guineas is stablemate Little Big Bear, who has not run since a setback prevented him from building on his stunning seven-length Phoenix Stakes win over six furlongs.

“When he got into top gear and he opened up in the last furlong there, he was very impressive and ran through the line. You know, his last furlong was his best furlong,” said Moore.

“All he’s done is finish off his race well, he’s a very exciting horse. By No Nay Never out of a Bering mare. He’s one that we’re very much looking forward to and he could be a very good miler, but we’ll see as we haven’t asked him a serious question yet.

Regarding the trip Moore said: “You never know until you try, but he’ll give himself every opportunity. He does everything right, he’s got a super attitude and the way he ran through the line at the Curragh, you’d like to think that a mile should be within range.”

Meditate is heading for the 1000 Guineas
Meditate is heading for the 1000 Guineas (Donall Farmer/PA)

Moore also holds strong claims in the Qipco 1000 Guineas with Meditate, last seen winning at the Breeders’ Cup.

“She ran pretty much every month last year. OK, she was beat in the Moyglare by a good filly (Tahiyra) but the ground was a bit soft that day,” said Moore.

“She was very good in America when stepped up to the mile. We are looking forward to her. I think she’ll run a big race in the 1000 Guineas.

“(She has a) good long stride suited to Newmarket, is well-balanced and will come down the hill.”

Paddington more likely to represent O’Brien in Craven than Cairo

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Recent Naas winner Paddington may represent Aidan O’Brien in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

The Siyouni colt carried a big weight to victory to win the Madrid Handicap on his return to action and is on course to step up in class for the Guineas trial.

O’Brien also has Cairo entered, last seen finishing well down the field in the UAE Derby on dirt. But soft ground has made him a very unlikely runner.

“We left in two and I’m not sure as the ground has gone soft. Paddington is the one that might run. It might be a step too quick, but he’s in and we are thinking about it,” said O’Brien.

“Cairo would have been a possible only the ground has gone soft. He’s fine and just didn’t face the dirt over in Dubai.”

O’Brien currently houses two of the ante-post favourites for the 2000 Guineas in Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear and both are due to step up their work shortly.

“It’s so far, so good with the Guineas horses,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

“Little Big Bear is a quick horse and has not been asked to do a lot. His work will get more serious over the next few weeks.”

Goldana sparkles on first start for Joseph O’Brien

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Goldana made a winning start for Joseph O’Brien in the Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.

The daughter of Galileo Gold was previously trained in Germany by Peter Schiergen and was an impressive six-length winner of a Listed contest at Hannover in October – her final start before transferring to the Owning Hill handler for €130,000.

Sent off at 17-2 for her Irish debut in this Group Three event, jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle kept the four-year-old hot on the tail of the pace-setting favourite Mea Domina throughout and although she looked in trouble with McMonagle getting serious inside the final quarter-mile, Goldana knuckled down gamely to soon assert her dominance and surge clear in the shadow of the post.

“I’m delighted for the owners. It’s their first horse with me and she looks a smart filly going forward,” said O’Brien.

“She had good form on slow ground in Germany and it’s nice to start off the season with a Group win for her.

“We bought her in Arqana last year and she is a sister to Love Reigns who is a smart filly for Wesley Ward. She has a pedigree and was a Listed winner already.

Goldana makes a winning debut for Joseph O'Brien
Goldana makes a winning debut for Joseph O’Brien (PA)

“She won her Listed race over nine furlongs so she’ll probably stay a bit further. It looked as though she got a little bit outpaced when they quickened up, but she came good in the last 100 yards.

“She has loads of options and there is a lovely programme for fillies. The Athasi back here may come a bit quick for her.”

Aidan O’Brien wasted little time getting on the scoresheet when Democracy landed the opening Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden in taking fashion.

Sent off the even-money favourite for the six-furlong content, the son of No Nay Never always looked to have plenty lurking under the bonnet and quickened away smartly from the opposition inside the final furlong.

He was the best part of three lengths clear at the line and with the full-brother to Richard Fahey’s Midnight Mile impressing the master of Ballydoyle, O’Brien indicated he could soon return to the Kildare track for the GAIN First Flier Stakes on May 1.

https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1647580585701830656?s=20

He said: “You’d have to be very happy with that on very deep ground. He travelled very well and when Wayne (Lordan) dropped him down to go he was a little bit lost on that ground but he would never have seen that ground before.

“It was a good education for him. He has plenty of speed and I’d say he’s a classy horse. He’s big and he’s strong and very laid back.

“There is a Listed race (First Flier) back here in a few weeks and we could look at that.”

Donnacha O’Brien is another eyeing Pattern company next following Porta Fortuna’s triumph at 9-2 in the Irish National Stud And Gardens Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh
Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh (PA)

He said: “She was our first two-year-old runner so it was good to see her do that. I thought she was a nice filly, but it’s hard to judge when you haven’t run one.

“Gavin (Lynch) said he followed the one that there was a bit of money for and he got the gap at the right time and she quickened up well.”

“We might have a look at a Group race for fillies at Naas next month. She has plenty of scope so is not just a five-furlong filly.”

Bright Legend showed huge improvement on his second outing to land a blow for Fozzy Stack in the Tote Fantasy Who’s In Your Stable Irish EBF Maiden.

Fozzy Stack's Bright Legend gets off the mark
Fozzy Stack’s Bright Legend gets off the mark (PA)

“He stays well and likes that ground,” said Stack.

“He’s a very big horse and still has a lot of maturing to do. He’ll probably be a better horse next year.

“We’ll probably try to find a winners’ race for him.

“He ran away from the whip and he did well to get him organised again. He gave him a good ride.”

Point well made by returning Lonsdale in Alleged Stakes

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Point Lonsdale showed the engine remains firmly intact to make a winning return in the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s Australia colt struck four times as a two-year-old, winning not only the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but also the Tyros Stakes and Futurity Stakes on home soil.

He lost his unbeaten record in the final start of his juvenile campaign, finishing second to Native Trail in the National Stakes, and then suffered his second defeat when unable to land a blow in last year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

That was his only start at three and he has since spent 351 days on the sidelines.

But he allayed any fitness doubts stepping up in trip in this 10-furlong Group Three and having shadowed Joseph O’Brien’s Visualisation on the front end, showed a tremendous attitude to reel in that chief market rival when hitting top gear in the closing stages.

“I’m very happy with that on his first run back on that ground. He’s going to stay further,” said O’Brien.

Curragh Races – Sunday April 16th
Point Lonsdale ridden by Wayne Lordan wins The SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes at the Curragh (Donall Farmer/PA)

“We thought as a two-year-old he would get further than seven furlongs, but he never went any further because we had other horses. Then we ran him in the Guineas and he got injured.

“There was nowhere to hide today. Joseph’s horse went a good gallop and none of the other horses were able to close.”

Set to be campaigned over similar distances to fellow high-class four-year-old Luxembourg, Epsom’s Coronation Cup could become the major summer target for Point Lonsdale as O’Brien shuffles his pack accordingly.

Point Lonsdale and connections after the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes
Point Lonsdale and connections after the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Alleged Stakes (PA)

He continued: “We have Luxembourg in the same sort of bracket.

“At the moment we are looking at the Ganay for him and if not the Mooresbridge.

“This horse could go for something like the Coronation (Cup) and take in another race before that.”

Betfair shortened Point Lonsdale to 14-1 from 20s for that contest, while he is 10-1 from 16-1 for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Democracy rules at the Curragh with impressive debut

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Aidan O’Brien wasted little time getting on the scoresheet at the Curragh when Democracy landed the opening Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden in taking fashion.

Sent off the even-money favourite for the six-furlong content, the son of No Nay Never always looked to have plenty lurking under the bonnet and quickened away smartly from the opposition inside the final furlong.

He was the best part of three lengths clear at the line and with the full-brother to Richard Fahey’s Midnight Mile impressing the master of Ballydoyle, O’Brien indicated he could soon return to the Kildare track for the GAIN First Flier Stakes on May 1.

He said: “You’d have to be very happy with that on very deep ground. He travelled very well and when Wayne (Lordan) dropped him down to go he was a little bit lost on that ground but he would never have seen that ground before.

“It was a good education for him. He has plenty of speed and I’d say he’s a classy horse. He’s big and he’s strong and very laid back.

“There is a Listed race (First Flier) back here in a few weeks and we could look at that.”

Donnacha O’Brien is another eyeing Pattern company next following Porta Fortuna’s triumph at 9-2 in the Irish National Stud And Gardens Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh
Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh (PA)

He said: “She was our first two-year-old runner so it was good to see her do that. I thought she was a nice filly, but it’s hard to judge when you haven’t run one.

“Gavin (Lynch) said he followed the one that there was a bit of money for and he got the gap at the right time and she quickened up well.”

“We might have a look at a Group race for fillies at Naas next month. She has plenty of scope so is not just a five-furlong filly.”

Bright Legend showed huge improvement on his second outing to land a blow for Fozzy Stack in the Tote Fantasy Who’s In Your Stable Irish EBF Maiden.

Fozzy Stack's Bright Legend gets off the mark
Fozzy Stack’s Bright Legend gets off the mark (PA)

“He stays well and likes that ground,” said Stack.

“He’s a very big horse and still has a lot of maturing to do. He’ll probably be a better horse next year.

“We’ll probably try to find a winners’ race for him.

“He ran away from the whip and he did well to get him organised again. He gave him a good ride.”

Brighter shines with debut success at Dundalk

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Brighter could take a step up in class after she overcame her evident inexperience to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Dundalk.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge was sent off a 13-8 chance in the five-furlong contest and after taking an early lead, she had to dig deep for Ryan Moore, drifting right but always doing enough to hold off the 11-8 favourite Vanity Pays by a head.

Brighter was a first winner for sire Ten Sovereigns and she could now tackle the Group Three Fillies Sprint Stakes at Naas.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “Great to get the stallion off the mark. She’s a fine example of the Ten Sovereigns’ progeny.

“Aidan felt she was just ready to start, she will come on a tonne from this. Ryan was happy with her – she was green throughout the run, but she is going to improve a tonne.

“We will probably go to the fillies’ juvenile sprint at Naas in five weeks time. She is a filly to look forward to.”

O’Brien and Moore made it a double on the night as 2-7 market leader Red Riding Hood survived a stewards’ inquiry to lift the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Fillies Maiden.

Having the third start of her career, the daughter of Justify hung across the track in the finish, impeding third-placed Shamwari but her three-quarter-length verdict was allowed to stand.

Armstrong said: “She’s still a work-in-progress, she’s just got to put everything together.

“She will definitely come on a lot for the run, the experience will do her the world of good.

“She could go back to Naas for something like the Naas Oaks Trial in three weeks’ time and try to get the black type for her.

“Once she puts everything together, she will be a nice filly going forward.”

Tenebrism bursts into sprinting picture with Cork success

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Tenebrism made her class count with victory on her return to action at Cork.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly is a dual Group One winner, but remarkably returned at a very generous 11-10 favourite in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cork Stakes over six furlongs.

Saddled with a 5lb penalty, she was nicely tracking the pace set by Moss Tucker and Wave Machine, then her turn of foot under Ryan Moore at the furlong pole soon saw the race put to bed.

Paddy Power and Betfair went 7-1 for the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot and 20-1 for the Platinum Jubilee.

O’Brien said: “At the backend of last year we put her into the sprint at Ascot and it became apparent that she was an obvious sprinter. We had been trying to stretch her to seven (furlongs) and a mile, but obviously it is all pure natural speed she has.

“She has a lovely mind, relaxes and quickens and could be very exciting for the year.

“She was at the Curragh a couple of weeks ago when Dean (Gallagher) rode her and she went up with the Guineas horses and he was delighted with her and was happy with her since.

“We took her here without training her hard and she was really only ready to come racing. That’s the way we wanted and she can go back to Naas in a couple of weeks.

“We thought if she got to Royal Ascot that she could run two days, in the King’s Stand and the Diamond (Platinum) Jubilee.”

He added: “On that (testing) ground we usually struggle, but the horses are forward and we have to be careful now when they are that forward. A couple of months before the ground got back it was good and they were all doing half-speeds so the foundation was in them.”

All eyes in the following Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden were on the O’Brien-trained Alabama, but the well-touted No Nay Never colt never quite looked like he would oblige, albeit there was promise in his third to the very taking winner Noche Magica (7-4).

Ridden by Billy Lee for Paddy Twomey, the Night Of Thunder youngster cost £230,000 as a yearling and might be good value at that judged on this effort.

Noche Magica returns with Billy Lee
Noche Magica returns with Billy Lee (Thomas Weekes/PA)

Twomey said: “Like plenty of mine on debut, he was green and fell out of the gates but once he was going and joined them, Billy said he was just going through the gears. He said that that ground actually blunted his speed. He doesn’t want that heavy ground, but I felt he was ready to start and run a nice race.

“I don’t gallop horses in the spring and he had one breeze and a little half-speed with a three-year-old last week and that’s all he has done so far – it is natural ability with him.

“Mark McStay bought him for a new owner to the yard, Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi, who is a Dubai businessman, and I’m delighted to have him and delighted he sent the horse to us.

“Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards now and while I didn’t think past today, I’d say six (furlongs) is no problem and we’d love to go to Ascot in June. Wherever we go before then, I think he is good enough.”

Elsewhere on the card, You Send Me is set to test her Classic credentials after an impressive success in the Welcome To The Racing Home For Easter Festival 2023 Fillies Maiden.

The well-supported Fozzy Stack-trained daughter of Starspangledbanner was only seen once last season and went into the notebooks with her fifth place in that run at the Curragh in September.

All the better for it, the 11-4 chance quickened up smartly when asked by Mark Enright, coming home three and a half lengths to the good over Beauty Bella.

“She is a big filly and was very weak when she ran last year so we put her away,” said Stack.

“We’ll see how she comes out of this and if it doesn’t take too much out of her, we might look at a Guineas trial. She is very big and still very raw and could even make a better filly next year than this year.

“She wants seven (furlongs) or a mile and I don’t think she wants it that soft as she is a good moving filly. She is a nice filly.”

Savethelastdance shows off winning moves at Leopardstown

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Savethelastdance halved in price for the Oaks after a determined success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown.

The daughter of Galileo was sent off the outsider of three Aidan O’Brien contenders at 20-1 but had clearly learnt a bit from her sole start at two, as she was not long in getting to a share of the lead before striding on with seven furlongs to run.

Ryan Moore was never far away on Boogie Woogie but could not get past the Wayne Lordan-ridden leader, and neither could Dermot Weld’s even-money favourite Azazat, who looked to have every chance from two out but failed to the extra gear that might have been expected.

“She had a nice run last year and obviously she handled the ground well and she stays well,” said O’Brien of his charge, whose American Grade One-winning dam Daddys Lil Darling went to Enable’s Oaks only to be withdrawn after bolting to the start when Epsom was hit by a thunderstorm.

“We were delighted with the second filly, we thought she’d win. Ryan said he followed her but every time he went to her, she found more.

“You are never sure about that ground until you run in it.

“Dermot thought his filly was good and so did Joseph (O’Brien, trainer of fourth home Star Galaxy) so I’d say it was a decent race.

“She’ll go into a trial now and she’ll get further.”

The Prairie completed a notable double for Wayne Lordan
The Prairie completed a notable double for Wayne Lordan (Gary Carson/PA)

O’Brien and Lordan wasted no time in doubling up, as The Prairie (7-2) took the Aparto Student (C & G) Maiden.

Like Savethelastdance seen just once as a juvenile, the Galileo colt sat not far off the pace set by stablemate Duke Cador and while he needed every yard of the 10 furlongs to get on top he was a cosy enough winner at the line.

Paddy Power were impressed by both Ballydoyle winners, with Savethelastdance 33-1 for the Oaks and The Prairie 25-1 for the Derby.

“He had a nice run in Killarney last year,” said O’Brien.

“He’s bred to get a mile and a half. Wayne had a lovely position on him, Seamus (Heffernan) went an even gallop in front and he picked up and galloped home. Wayne liked him loads so that was good.

“He got a mile and a quarter very well there in heavy ground and he’s obviously going to get a mile and a half well. He’s a horse to look forward to.

“Seamus was delighted with his horse (Duke Cador) and said to maybe ride him a bit more patient the next day as when he got there he was waiting.

“Ryan’s horse (The Black Tiger) pulled a muscle in his hind quarters, maybe at the two marker. We’ll give him a bit of time off and hopefully he’ll be OK.”

O’Brien was narrowly denied a hat-trick on the day, with Farnborough and Moore losing out by a short head to the Jim Bolger-trained Fleetfoot in the Aparto Home Stretch (C & G) Maiden.

Fleetfoot and Rory Clearly
Fleetfoot and Rory Clearly (Gary Carson/PA)

The winner – who is jointly owned by Bolger’s wife Jackie and former jockey Freddy Tylicki – kept good company in three starts last year, including finishing third to subsequent Group One winner Al Riffa on his second outing.

“His form was good last year. He usually only got mugged by a very good horse and he’s a better three-year-old than he was a two-year-old,” said Bolger of the Rory Cleary-ridden 7-4 favourite.

“He handled it well and I’d say he’ll go on any ground. I’d say he’ll go all the way trip-wise.

“Hopefully he’ll be back here in September!”

Story stakes Guineas claim with Leopardstown Trial triumph

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Never Ending Story led an Aidan O’Brien domination of both the colts’ and fillies’ Guineas trials at Leopardstown.

Contesting the Group Three Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, Never Ending Story came into the race the 2-1 favourite after landing the Silver Flash at the same grade and track last season.

The daughter of Dubawi ended her term with third place in the Prix Marcel Boussac and was starting her three-year-old campaign under Ryan Moore at Leopardstown.

Ahead of only a handful of rivals and travelling widest of all around the final bend, the filly rallied under Moore to pick off the field one by one.

Eventually collaring the leader, Kieran Cotter’s Matilda Picotte, Never Ending Story crossed the line two and a half lengths ahead and was trimmed from 20-1 to 8-1 for the Qipco 1000 Guineas by bookmaker Paddy Power as a result.

O’Brien said: “We are delighted with her as she hadn’t really come yet, you can see it in her coat.

“She can go to one of the Guineas and the step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem to her.

“(Stablemate) Meditate is the plan for Newmarket and she could go for one of the other Guineas. We will go gently on her.”

Earlier in the afternoon, O’Brien’s Hans Andersen made light work of the Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes.

The Frankel colt won a maiden last term and was then a good second to stablemate Aesop’s Fables in the Group Two Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in August.

Ryan Moore and Hans Andersen
Ryan Moore and Hans Andersen (Damien Storan/PA)

He was soundly beaten by Al Riffa next time out in the Group One National Stakes, but was nevertheless the 8-13 favourite when making his seasonal debut and stepped down in grade.

Patiently ridden by Moore until two furlongs from home, he swept clear of his four rivals to prevail by two and a half lengths when encouraged by little more than hands and heels.

O’Brien was pleased with the performance, particularly considering the heavy ground, and is considering the Irish or French Guineas, plus the French Derby for his Classic targets.

Hans Andersen was a clear winner
Hans Andersen was a clear winner (Niall Carson/PA)

He said: “I’m delighted with him. He could be an Irish Guineas horse or a French Derby horse and that’s what we are looking at.

“He had experience from last year. He quickened up well and is a very good mover.

“He’s obviously a good ground horse, he moves very long and low. That’s not his ground but he got through it.

“It’s never ideal (running on heavy ground) but we always run if we can at all. It’s never going to suit every horse all the time, but at least he got started. All that could happen is that he might not win.

“He could look at the French Guineas or the Irish Guineas on the way to the French Derby.”

Zarinsk among potential stars on show at Leopardstown

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Irish Champions Weekend winner Zarinsk is among a classy field of 14 runners set to line up in the Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Trained by Ger Lyons, the Juddmonte-owned filly bounded clear to win the Ingabelle Stakes in September, after which connections were happy to put her away for the season.

While that victory came on soft ground, the going is expected to be far more testing this weekend, with a precautionary inspection planned for 7.30am after more rain on Saturday morning left the going officially heavy.

“She ended last year on a good note winning on Champions Weekend in good style and she’s wintered well, Ger is happy with her and this looks a nice starting point,” said Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon.

“She won with cut in the ground – but there’s cut and there’s what we have at the minute. We’ve had a lot of rain recently, so you wouldn’t know about heavy.

“She’s a very nice filly and we’ve been very happy with her, and she’s ready to go.

“There was no temptation to run her again after Leopardstown. That was job done – she’d won her stakes race. So we put her away, as she was a very tall filly last year, and straight after the race we were happy to say that was her season done and to give her a bit of time.

“She’d had four runs, so hopefully we’ve a nice filly for this year.”

Never Ending Story with Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore
Never Ending Story with Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore (Brian Lawless/PA)

Aidan O’Brien runs three, with Ryan Moore on Never Ending Story, who brings Group One form to the contest, having been fourth in the Moyglare and third in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

Joseph O’Brien’s Madly Truly and Thornbrook, Kieran Cotter’s Matilda Picotte, Dermot Weld’s Tarawa and Paddy Twomey’s Impact Warrior also bring strong claims to the table.

Only seven colts have been declared for the Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial.

Aidan O’Brien’s Hans Andersen sets the standard, having finished second in the Futurity last season before slightly disappointing in the National Stakes when fifth.

Jessica Harrington runs Bold Discovery, bought by owner Marc Chan following an impressive debut win at Naas.

His first run in his new colours saw him finish a respectable third to Cairo in the Killavullan Stakes.

“He might be just a bit short of match practice but we hope he will be a nice horse this year,” said Jamie McCalmont, the owner’s racing manager.

“First time out he ended up on the lead and won, and I think that was a bit of a surprise, then the next time he ended up on the lead again. So the horse just lacks some racing experience and the idea on Sunday is to get him to come from behind and I think he will improve a lot from Sunday’s race.

“He’s a very big horse that will hopefully just get better with time, so we will take things slowly with him.”

In 2016 Dermot Weld’s Harzand won the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes before winning the Derby and the O’Brien family will be hoping to repeat the trick.

Aidan O’Brien runs the Moore-ridden Alexandroupolis, winner of his only start to date, as well as Denmark and Mohawk Chief.

His eldest son, Joseph O’Brien, is represented Up And Under, while his sibling Donnacha is represented by Alder, third in a Group Two to Auguste Rodin when last seen.