Tag Archive for: Aidan O’Brien

Angel Bleu hunting further French glory

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Angel Bleu returns to Saint-Cloud attempting to maintain his unbeaten record on the continent in the Prix Edmond Blanc on Saturday.

Ralph Beckett’s son of Dark Angel struck twice on French soil as a two-year-old, firstly landing the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere before doubling his Group One haul in the Criterium International 20 days later.

Despite failing to find the scoresheet during his three-year-old season, he continued to hold his own in esteemed company, finishing third in the Greenham and also not disgraced behind Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Following an encouraging return at Wolverhampton, Angel Bleu will now be partnered by Ryan Moore as he returns to the French capital for Group Three duty – tasked with taking on Francis-Henri Graffard’s dual race winner and six-time course scorer, The Revenant.

“We were very pleased with his run at Wolverhampton,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for Angel Bleu’s owner Marc Chan.

“The draw wasn’t the best, but everyone was delighted with his performance and we’re just building up from there. The horse seems to thrive on racing and likes the course, so we may as well run and keep going.

“When you look back at his run in the Sussex Stakes, on ground he didn’t like, and where he came out of the race with an injury – Baaeed was probably at his peak at that point and it wasn’t really a bad effort. Other than the two times at Royal Ascot, the horse has never run a bad race.

“The Revenant has won this race twice and on that ground, at that distance, it will be no egg and spoon race.

“It’s not an easy race, but it’s kind of an obvious spot and Ryan Moore right now is kind of walking on water – he’s in a zone he has never been in before.”

Moore is also in action on the card in the Group Three Prix Penelope where he has the chance to continue his global purple patch aboard Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot filly, Be Happy.

Jockey Ryan Moore has two rides in Group Three contests at Saint-Cloud on Saturday
Jockey Ryan Moore has two rides in Group Three contests at Saint-Cloud on Saturday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Be Happy will enjoy the expected soft ground and she is a filly we like,” the jockey told Betfair.

“She won well on her debut in testing ground at Cork and she probably didn’t get the run of the race when stepped up in class at the Curragh next time. This longer trip will suit the Camelot filly.

“We also have Fillies’ Mile fifth Library in here and she certainly has her chance – it’s a very good race for the grade, with Pensee Du Jour an obvious threat to all after her runaway win here last time.”

Leading fancy Statuette set to miss Guineas, reveals O’Brien

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Auguste Rodin, Little Big Bear and Meditate look likely to spearhead Aidan O’Brien’s Classic challenge this term, but leading Qipco 1000 Guineas candidate Statuette is unlikely to feature at Newmarket.

The daughter of Justify won both her juvenile starts last term but has been off the track since landing a Curragh Group in June.

She had been towards the head of the market for the first fillies’ Classic on May 7, but O’Brien feels she is doubtful to make the line-up.

He said: “Statuette has had a little bit of a hold up and I don’t think she’s going to make the Guineas. We will just go gentle and see what happens.”

Aidan O'Brien and Auguste Rodin on Monday at Ballydoyle
Aidan O’Brien and Auguste Rodin on Monday at Ballydoyle (PA)

The master of Ballydoyle holds a typically strong hand in the three-year-old division, with his two colts Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear sharing favouritism for the 2000 Guineas with many bookmakers.

Auguste Rodin signed off last term with victory in the Vertem Futurity Trophy over a mile at Doncaster, while Little Big Bear was an effortless six-length winner in the six-furlong Phoenix Stakes on his final start of the campaign at the Curragh in August.

Both took part in a post-racing gallop at the Curragh on Saturday, with O’Brien impressed by Auguste Rodin’s effort in working with sprinting candidate The Antarctic.

Speaking at a stable visit on Monday morning, O’Brien said: “We’re very happy with Auguste Rodin. What he did at the Curragh was very good, following a three-year-old sprinter. We were very happy with that.

“He was very comfortable (working with The Antarctic), we were surprised at him but he was always very classy from the first time Ryan (Moore) rode him.

“I think they are (the main two for Newmarket), then the lads will have to decide whether to let the two of them run together or split them up. They are the two that will be trained for Newmarket, that makes sense.”

Little Big Bear in action at the Curragh on Saturday
Little Big Bear in action at the Curragh on Saturday (Healy Racing)

O’Brien thinks Little Big Bear will get a mile, although he has yet to try a trip in excess of six furlongs, but Auguste Rodin is expected to sparkle over further in time.

He said: “I suppose Little Big Bear would be very comfortable and happy to go back sprinting, but I think there’s a good chance he will get a mile. He races very relaxed.

“You’d imagine Auguste Rodin will go better stretching out to a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. He’s that type of horse (that could get any trip in time). If we have a horse that could do that, he’s definitely the one.

“We nearly didn’t run him at Doncaster on the ground. He’s an exceptional mover, a very slick, long and low mover. He’s the type of horse that could start in the Guineas and stretch out.”

Victoria Road, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, is pencilled in for the French 2000 Guineas and Derby, while Hans Andersen, Denmark, Alfred Munnings, Adelaide River and Alexandroupolis could all have Classic trial dates at some point, although Espionage is reported to have had a minor issue.

O’Brien said: “He was in full work and then he got a little bit of a shoulder and he’s only swimming, so he’s going to be held up for a little bit.”

O’Brien ranks his three-year-old colts team highly, adding: “We’ve plenty of chances there and we have two very strong Guineas horses, we have the horse for France. Little Big Bear is very classy, but they are obviously two very good colts.

“I suppose the difference in the two is Auguste Rodin could stretch right out and looking at him at the Curragh, he’s not short of pace. The other horse you would imagine would get a mile.”

Statuette might be missing her Guineas date at Newmarket, but Meditate is set to fly the flag after pleasing O’Brien in Saturday’s racecourse outing.

Placed twice in Group One company last summer, she graduated to top-level success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Meditate at Ballydoyle on Monday
Meditate at Ballydoyle on Monday (PA)

Her trainer said: “Meditate is the one, she’s going there. She did a gentle piece at the Curragh, because she was at Tipperary a month before that and she was a little bit ouchy afterwards, so we had to be gentle with her.

“She still got to the Curragh to do her bit and she’ll do her first trot this morning, so hopefully she’s OK.

“The plan is to go straight to Newmarket with her. She’s a very professional filly, she’s not over big but she’s strong. We were very happy with her on Saturday.”

Dundalk maiden winner Beginnings could get the chance to emulate her dam, Winter, by tackling the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

O’Brien, who also confirmed sprinting campaigns for The Antarctic and Aesop’s Fables, added: “Beginnings could go to a Guineas trial next weekend if it was nice ground, she’s fit and forward. We have had fillies from that Leopardstown trial win the Guineas, so they can step up.”

O’Brien shuffling long-distance pack in wake of Kyprios setback

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Aidan O’Brien is considering Plan B for his staying challenge this term, with reigning champion Kyprios a major doubt to defend his Gold Cup title at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old carried all before him in the marathon division last season, winning each of six starts, including the Ascot showpiece, the Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and a tremendous 20-length success in the Prix du Cadran, achieved despite hanging badly across the track.

O’Brien revealed on Sunday Kyprios had suffered a setback, and he expanded on his injury issue when speaking to visiting media at his yard on Monday.

Kyprios (centre left) was the king of the staying division last year
Kyprios (centre left) was the king of the staying division last year (Adam Davy/PA)

He said: “I don’t think Kyprios is going to make the Gold Cup. He got a little bit of a joint and it’s not settling down. We will just have to wait and see. It’s one of those things.

“It happened a month ago and it’s just not settled – sometimes these things can settle very quickly and sometimes they don’t. He got an inner infection inside in the joint and it had to be flushed and then there was more infection, so it had to be flushed a second time.”

If as seems likely Kyprios does miss out, O’Brien has identified some possible deputies, headed by Emily Dickinson – winner of the Loughbrown Stakes when upped to two miles on her final start last term.

Saturday’s Dubai Gold Cup winner Broome is another contender, along with Changingoftheguard, who won the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot when last seen.

Broome won in Dubai on Saturday
Broome won in Dubai on Saturday (Adam Davy/PA)

He added: “Emily Dickinson, Broome, Changingoftheguard is a possible – even though we probably won’t make a decision (yet).

“We were very impressed with Emily at the Curragh, she grew another leg when she went to two miles. I’m not sure whether Broome will stretch out that far (two and a half miles at Ascot), but you’d imagine he’ll be very happy at Goodwood, Irish Leger, the Melbourne Cup, those type of races.”

At the other end of the scale, Tenebrism will flex her sprinting muscles for the Ballydoyle team after trying her hand up to a mile last term.

O’Brien is eyeing an audacious Royal Ascot double, with the King’s Stand and Platinum Jubilee Stakes in mind.

Tenebrism (left) has a sprinting campaign on her agenda
Tenebrism (left) has a sprinting campaign on her agenda (Tim Goode/PA)

He said: “Tenebrism is going to go sprinting. She’ll probably start in one of the local sprints, she’s nearly ready to go, she was at the Curragh (on Saturday) and worked well.

“She’s a fast filly, I’d say five or six she’d be comfortable at. We’re thinking both with her, the five and the six – we thought she could do the two (at Ascot). We were dallying around her last year, seeing where we were going to go and but the minute we started sprinting, it was very obvious she was a sprinter.

“She’ll be trained differently, last year we were trying to stretch her out and she was still being very competitive at those distances, she’s just a good filly.

O’Brien also outlined some early-season juveniles to monitor, headed by a No Nay Never half-brother to Sioux Nation.

He said: “Alabama is one to watch, Battle Cry is another No Nay Never, Emperor Of Rome, a Ten Sovereigns filly called Brighter, I think they’re the more forward types. You’ll not go far wrong with Alabama, who is a brother to Sioux Nation.

“The Liffey is another one, His Majesty is another No Nay Never, Carnegie Hall, they’re some of the early-type ones.”

Aidan O’Brien raises Kyprios Gold Cup doubts

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Leading stayer Kyprios has met with a setback which could prevent him from defending his Gold Cup crown at Royal Ascot.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Kyprios enjoyed the perfect season last year, winning all six of his races.

He progressed from scoring in the Vintage Crop and Saval Beg Stakes to go on to glory in the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and an amazing 20-length success in the Prix du Cadran, despite veering badly in the closing stages.

However, on a weekend when O’Brien saw another of his inmates, Broome, emerge as a Cup horse with a victory in Dubai, he revealed that the main player in the division could miss the first half of the campaign.

“With Kyprios we won’t rush him, we’ll take our time with him and see where we go. We’re looking at the autumn with him,” O’Brien told Racing TV.

“He got a little bit of a joint about a month ago and we just need that to settle down. If it does we’ll go on for Ascot and if it doesn’t we’ll have him for the autumn.

“Obviously there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then and we’ll play it by ear and slot them all in somewhere.”

Paddington books Classic trial ticket

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Aidan O’Brien is eyeing a Classic trial as a next port of call for Paddington following an impressive display in the Irish Racing Writers Carmel Kirwan And Loretta O’Hanlon Memorial Madrid Handicap at Naas.

Fifth on his Ascot debut in September before winning comfortably on his final juvenile start at the Curragh the following month, the Siyouni colt was the 6-4 favourite to make a successful reappearance over seven furlongs at Naas.

With Ryan Moore having hotfooted it back from Dubai to take the ride, Paddington travelled strongly for much of the contest and was pushed out to score by a length and three-quarters.

Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien with Paddington at Naas
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien with Paddington at Naas (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien said: “I’m very happy with him. He won very nice the last day and handled an ease in the ground. He probably will stay further.

“He will go into a trial now, maybe one of the French trials, to give him more experience.”

The Ballydoyle handler doubled up in the Dubawi Legend Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, but it was his apparent second string Jackie Oh who claimed top honours.

Red Riding Hood, second at Ascot on her introduction, was all the rage under Moore as the 4-6 favourite, but newcomer Jackie Oh – a daughter of Galileo out of Jacqueline Quest – proved too strong.

Of the 4-1 winner, O’Brien added: “She’s a very well-bred filly and handled the ground. She had a few holds ups last year and didn’t get to run. You would have to be delighted with her.

“She will go for a trial and I’d say she will get a bit further as well.”

The Listed Plusvital Devoy Stakes went the way of 9-2 shot Visualisation for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh.

The five-year-old was last of seven when last seen in action in the Group Three International Stakes at the Curragh in June, but bounced back to form in some style on his return – with a length and three-quarters separating him and the runner-up Sunchart.

Visualisation was a clear-cut winner of the Devoy Stakes
Visualisation was a clear-cut winner of the Devoy Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

The 2-1 favourite Martinstown finished last of eight.

“He loves heavy ground. Last year he didn’t get much of it and he had a little setback in the season as well,” said the winning trainer.

“He’s come back in really good nick and Declan gave him a great ride. He said there was a strip of ground that he thought was the best of it when he got on it and that was a help.

“He’s in the Alleged Stakes and we’ll keep him busy while the ground is heavy. He’ll probably have a bit of time off in the summer and come back for the autumn.”

Michael O’Callaghan has high hopes for Red Letter Bray (2-1) following his victory in the Kuroshio At Compas Stallions Maiden.

Sixth behind the top-class Auguste Rodin on his only previous outing last summer, the son of New Bay confirmed that promise with a short head verdict over 11-8 favourite Run Ran Run – providing champion jockey Colin Keane with his first winner of the new turf season in Ireland.

“He’s a nice horse and we have always liked him,” said O’Callaghan.

“He’s pulled a shoe quite badly and Colin thinks he might have done it coming out of the gates and that’s why he was just a little bit awkward at the end.

“He’s pretty straightforward at home and Colin thought he’ll get an extra furlong. He was quite green and needed the company when he got it.

“I had in the back of my mind that he could be a horse for the seven-furlong Guineas Trial at Leopardstown but it might be a bit soon and he could need some time to get over today with the deep ground and everything. I can see him stepping up to that level.”

Magical Vision (right) gets up to claim victory
Magical Vision (right) gets up to claim victory (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Aidan Howard-trained Magical Vision (6-1) picked up where she left off in the Compas Stallions Handicap.

The six-year-old, who did not make her debut until last season, won at Navan and Naas in the autumn and completed her hat-trick on her first start in almost five months, knuckling down to get the better of Mickey The Steel by a head under Chris Hayes.

Howard said: “She did what I was hoping she would do. She has loads of gears and loves the ground.

“We’ll probably look for something similar in a couple of weeks because she isn’t going to handle summer ground.”

Sendo Square justified 5-2 favouritism in the Far Above At Compas Stallions Handicap for trainer Andrew Slattery and his son and rider of the same name, while Fozzy Stack’s Chazzesmee readily obliged as the 11-8 favourite in the King Of Change Handicap, with Mark Enright the winning jockey.

Ascot next for Dubai Gold Cup hero Broome

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Broome will take a direct route to the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, with trainer Aidan O’Brien setting his sights on a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup at the end of the year.

The seven-year-old has shown his best over middle distances over the last four seasons, with a previous foray over two miles ending in a distant last to Trueshan in the 2020 Long Distance Cup at Ascot.

However, Broome roared back to winning form over the staying trip on Saturday, seeing off Siskany by a neck in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan – his first victory since last year’s Hardwicke Stakes.

With stablemate Kyprios now a possible doubt for Ascot, Broome could end up being his main contender, with O’Brien also believing he is an ideal candidate to head in Flemington in November.

He said: “We were very happy. Obviously he’s going to go the Cup route and we’ll look at all those races on the way down to the Melbourne Cup. That’s probably what we’re going to do with him.

“He won’t have to run in the two Irish trials, he can go straight to Ascot. After that he can do Goodwood and all those types of races and then finish off down in Australia.

“He’s seven now and he’s the perfect age to be doing all those races, travelling as an older horse.

“He’s an amazing horse, he was very genuine at Meydan. Looking at him, you’d say we should have stepped him up in trip a lot earlier.”

Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear on track for Newmarket

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Derby favourite Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear pleased Aidan O’Brien as the Ballydoyle trainer took a strong team of horses to gallop after racing at the Curragh on Saturday.

Auguste Rodin, a three-year-old son of Deep Impact, was seen four times in his juvenile season, finishing second on debut but then ending his campaign with success in both the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes and the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes.

Little Big Bear was also beaten on debut then landed his next four races, taking the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot before stepping up in grade to claim the Anglesey Stakes and the Phoenix Stakes.

Both horses are headed in the direction of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and worked behind The Antarctic, a horse bound for a sprint campaign alongside stablemate Aesop’s Fables.

O’Brien said: “Little Big Bear, you’d have to be very happy with him as he hasn’t seen a track since the Phoenix Stakes. Seamus (Heffernan) said he was a bit on the bridle, a bit fresh, but travelled and finished very well.

“Wayne (Lordan) was very happy with Auguste Rodin. He was relaxed and did everything right. You couldn’t be happier with him.

“Obviously he’ll be looking at the Guineas. He’ll definitely go there without a run.

Classic hopeful Little Big Bear at the Curragh
Classic hopeful Little Big Bear at the Curragh (Healy Racing)

“When you are following up the likes of The Antarctic there, there are very few races you’d get as strong as that piece of work. They are highly-rated horses.

“Little Big Bear finished out very easy and Seamus seemed very happy. That was seven and a half furlongs today and he’ll go straight to the Guineas as well.

“We’ll take them home now and see how they are.”

He added: “We were very happy with The Antarctic. He’s probably going to go sprinting. Aesop’s Fables is the same, he’ll go sprinting. The Antarctic seems very versatile ground-wise.”

Tenebrism is another horse bound for a season of sprinting, whereas Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate has a 1000 Guineas bid as her immediate early-season target.

Tenebrism, Thoughts Of June, Point Lonsdale, Irish Champion Stakes winner Luxembourg and Emily Dickinson all worked also and have pencilled-in plans for the earlier and latter stages of the campaign.

Luxembourg enjoyed a workout at the Curragh
Luxembourg enjoyed a workout at the Curragh (Healy Racing)

O’Brien said: “Tenebrism is going to go sprinting this year. Thoughts Of June will go for a mile-and-a-half fillies’ Group Three. Meditate will go straight to the Guineas.

“We haven’t seen Point Lonsdale out since the Guineas and Seamus was very happy with him. He might go to the Mooresbridge.

“Wayne was very happy with Luxembourg. He’ll probably start in the Ganay in France and then come here for the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Physically he’s done very well.

“Emily Dickinson will probably go the Gold Cup route and she’ll start in Navan in the Vintage Crop Stakes. She was very good over two miles here and when she stepped up in trip was by far her best.”

Tower Of London, beaten by Auguste Rodin on Irish Champions Weekend but a winner on debut, also worked and his trainer is sure he has more to offer.

He said: “Dylan (Browne McMonagle) rode Tower Of London and he was very happy with him. We thought he was a very good horse, he won his maiden in Leopardstown and then ran very keen in the race that Auguste Rodin won.

“He didn’t run after that and obviously that wasn’t his run. He looked very impressive the day he won.”

Cairo taking Mendelssohn route to possible Kentucky challenge

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Should Aidan O’Brien’s Cairo emulate Mendelssohn in winning the UAE Derby on Saturday, Kentucky could be his next port of call.

Mendelssohn absolutely destroyed the field in 2018, winning by 18 and a half lengths, showing the dirt surface to be no problem, yet his experience in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs was not a happy one.

Bumped on leaving the stalls, and again soon after, his race was effectively over after a furlong and he trailed in last of 20 behind Justify, who would go on to lift the Triple Crown.

O’Brien has not been put off, however, and given Cairo won the same Listed race at Dundalk prior to the UAE Derby, the Ballydoyle handler is treading a familiar path.

“Cairo is a powerful-looking horse. We’ve been very happy with him through the winter and we were very happy with him when he won at Dundalk,” said O’Brien.

“Obviously, he’s going over a bit further than he has run before and of course it’s a different surface, but we’re happy with him and Pat (Keating, travelling head lad) has been very happy with him since he’s been out there. We’re hopeful.

“Mendelssohn was by Scat Daddy, this horse is by Quality Road and some of his do go on the dirt I suppose.

“Of course there’s a chance he could go to the Kentucky Derby after this, but we’d have to see how he runs. There’s a good chance, we’ll just see what happens first.”

Broome won the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last year
Broome won the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last year (David Davies/PA)

O’Brien also runs two well-established Ballydoyle inmates. Broome steps up for just a second crack at two miles in the Dubai Gold Cup while Order Of Australia runs in the Dubai Turf having won in Qatar last time out.

“We think the trip might suit Broome, we think the good ground might suit him and he had a good run the last day in Qatar when he last ran,” said O’Brien.

“We think and hope that he should run a good race.

“Order Of Australia won his last start in Qatar and he’s in good form.

“Obviously this is a furlong longer, but we’re very happy with him and hopefully he’ll run well.

“He’s done lots of travelling, he loves it and is very professional.”

Auguste Rodin set to stretch his legs after racing at the Curragh

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Racegoers at the Curragh on Saturday could be in for an extra treat with the possibility of Aidan O’Brien’s 2000 Guineas and Derby favourite Auguste Rodin exercising after racing.

A high-profile string from Ballydoyle tends to head to Irish Flat racing’s Headquarters on the opening day to stretch their legs away from home.

While the gallop is never too strenuous, for those on hand to witness it there is the very real chance of a future Classic winner being on show.

Auguste Rodin currently heads the betting for both the Guineas and the Derby having won three of his four starts at two, including the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Little Big Bear was one of last season's best juveniles
Little Big Bear was one of last season’s best juveniles (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Stablemate Little Big Bear is next in the betting for the Guineas. He was beaten a short head on his debut but won his next four including the Phoenix Stakes by seven lengths. A minor setback prevented him from running again.

“Little Big Bear and Auguste Rodin are good, everything has been good so far anyhow,” said O’Brien.

“We’re not sure if either will run in a trial, they are going to go to the Curragh on Saturday maybe for a canter around, and we’ll see about them after that.

“It’s probably the same for the fillies, Meditate and Statuette.”

Cairo delivers at Dundalk – setting up UAE Derby and possible trip to Kentucky

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Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore teamed up at Dundalk on Friday evening, as the Classic-entered Cairo got Ballydoyle off the mark domestically for 2023 at the first time of asking.

A smart juvenile who finished his campaign with victory in the Group Three Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown, the Quality Road colt was sent off the 30-100 favourite for this assignment in the Listed Patton Stakes over a mile – a race that forms part of the ‘European Road to the Kentucky Derby’.

Matching strides with News At Ten for much of the journey, the market leader asserted down the straight to get on top and ultimately score by a comfortable two lengths.

The Patton Stakes was won by O’Brien and Moore with Mendelssohn in 2018 – and Cairo could follow in his footsteps by going for the UAE Derby and possibly to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “It was a nice start for him. Aidan felt coming here that he was just ready to start. He’ll come on plenty for the run.

“Ryan was happy with him, he said he will come on plenty as well, experience and fitness-wise. Ryan couldn’t get cover and he probably did a little much early against others that had a race. He gave Ryan a nice feel.

“The plan is, all being well and if he comes out of this well, he will go off to Dubai for the UAE Derby and we will see how we go.

“He’s an exciting horse to have and hopefully he has a good season ahead of him.”

Cairo has exciting targets on the horizon
Cairo has exciting targets on the horizon (PA)

Armstrong added: “He came to hand quick enough and Aidan felt fitness-wise he was just ready to start. It is worth a try on the dirt in Dubai. If it went well over there, we could possibly look at Kentucky (Derby). He has the Triple Crown entry.

“It is good have the Group One entries here as well as looking overseas.

“Ryan felt he took a good blow and he’ll come on plenty.

“He’s a son of Quality Road, very good pedigree. Plenty of speed in the pedigree and a very good mover. An athletic horse with a lovely attitude and he is exciting. He’ll step up in trip in Dubai.

“Plenty of options.”