Tag Archive for: Aidan O’Brien

Ballet Slippers tip-toes her way to success at Ascot

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Aidan O’Brien will step Ballet Slippers up in grade before the season is out after she outclassed her rivals at Ascot on Friday.

Impeccably-bred as a daughter of Dubawi out of the seven-time Group One winner Minding, the youngster finished third behind the exciting Red Letter on her Curragh debut before being caught late on by the also-promising Falling Snow at the same track last month.

On the strength of that form, Ballet Slippers was a prohibitively-priced 1-4 shot for the Wesco Anixter EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes and duly went straight to the lead under Ryan Moore.

Kylie Of Lochalsh briefly loomed up looking a threat early in the home straight, but her challenge petered out soon after and with the rail to help, the market leader galloped on strongly to see off an encouraging effort from newcomer Music Piece by a length.

Paddy Power cut Ballet Slippers to 8-1 from 10-1 for the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on October 11, while offering 20-1 for both next season’s 1000 Guineas and the Oaks.

O’Brien was not at Ascot, but said: “We’re delighted with her and think she’s going to be a lovely middle-distance filly for next year.

“She’s a lovely, genuine, straightforward filly really and I’m delighted that she’s won and handled an ease in the ground.

“We might have a look at a Listed or Group race next and see where we are, but really we’re thinking she’s a middle-distance filly for next year.”

Jockey James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing silks
Jockey James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing silks (David Davies/PA)

James Doyle enjoyed a double on the card, steering Calla Lagoon (9-2) to victory in the Charbonnel Et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes for Ralph Beckett before striking gold for his main employers Wathnan Racing aboard Diego Ventura in the Juddmonte British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.

The latter was making his stable debut for Hamad Al Jehani, having being snapped up by his Qatari-based owners after making a winning start to his career at Naas in July for Gavin Cromwell.

A 6-5 favourite to follow up on his British bow, Diego Ventura was delivered with his challenge in the final furlong by Doyle and got the better of a protracted duel with Spirit Of Farhh by a head.

“He didn’t begin all that good and with green horses around me going every which way we got spat out the back, so we had to go to plan B and try to teach him,” the jockey told Sky Sports Racing.

“Obviously it was a disadvantage being drawn where we were, so I’d planned to get as near to this rail as we could, I just didn’t think we’d be nearly last trying to do it!

“It’s only his second start and he showed the will to win when he needed it. He was giving chunks of weight away to the second horse, so it’s all positive.”

Serena Brotherton after winning the Queen Mother's Cup at York
Serena Brotherton after winning the Queen Mother’s Cup at York (Nigel French/PA)

Terries Royale discovered his second wind to ensure Serena Brotherton emerged triumphant in the LK Bennett Lady Amateur Jockeys Handicap.

Mick Appleby’s charge was bidding to provide her 53-year-old rider with a ladies’ race double after she secured her fourth Queen’s Mother’s Cup at York in May, a race which traditionally sees the successful jockey win their weight in champagne.

Terries Royale (6-1) looked booked for minor honours after being challenged and passed by the Becky Smith-ridden 7-2 favourite Shaladar, but rallied late on to get back up and score by a neck.

Brotherton said: “It was a really brave performance (to come back), but it was my fault – he’s taken me into the race and got there and has been a bit green and thought ‘what do I do’?

“When Becky came, he had something then to concentrate on and he’s run and been really gutsy. He’s seen it out really well and loved the ground.

“You can’t buy this feeling. Any winner anywhere is special, but when it’s Ascot it’s probably even more special, especially after York this year – you never get the two good ones in the same season, so it’s magic.”



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Southwell offer free entry for City Of Troy Breeders’ Cup gallop

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Southwell is gearing up to welcome City Of Troy’s legions of fans after confirming the public will be able to attend the Derby winner’s racecourse gallop later this month.

Aidan O’Brien had long mooted a trip to the Nottinghamshire track to test his Breeders’ Cup Classic aspirant on a synthetic surface before the anticipated climax of his career at Del Mar.

The impressive Juddmonte International Stakes winner will enjoy an away day to the Rolleston venue on September 20, where O’Brien hopes to replicate conditions his Group One star will face in California.

American starting stalls and a crack team of stablemates will join City Of Troy at Southwell as he is put through his paces ahead of his trans-Atlantic assignment, with Ballydoyle also suggesting they would be happy for the racing public to come along and witness what could be the Justify colt’s final action on UK soil.

Mark Clayton, executive director at Southwell, has now confirmed the racecourse is planning on opening the gates for the masses, who will need to register for a free ticket to the event once arrangements for the gallop have been finalised.

He said: “We have decided that on September 20, everybody will be welcome to come and watch City Of Troy.

“We haven’t got the times yet of when he will gallop, but once we have that, we will release a statement with the relevant information.

“All of the public are welcome for free, they will just need to pre-register on our website.

“That is not live yet and until that is confirmed, we won’t be accepting bookings, but we are expecting arrangements to be confirmed ASAP, then it will go live on our website. We will look after everybody and what an occasion it will be for us.”

It will not be the first time O’Brien has brought a member of his all-conquering string to Southwell, with the likes of Galileo and Giant’s Causeway both taking in a lap of the course ahead of their American endeavours.

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore will put City Of Troy through his paces at Southwell (Damien Eagers/PA)
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore will put City Of Troy through his paces at Southwell (Damien Eagers/PA)

The once Fibresand surface is now a Tapeta all-weather track, but Southwell is thrilled to maintain its reputation as the ‘go-to’ place for Breeders’ Cup preparations and executives are hoping to lure Big Evs back there, as Mick Appleby’s star sprinter also points towards California this autumn.

The son of Blue Point graced the course with his presence prior to winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint 12 months ago and similar to City Of Troy, is also slated to end his racing career in the San Diego suburbs.

Clayton continued: “Who knows, it could be the last time we see City Of Troy on these shores and he’s going off to try to do something special.

Big Evs visited Southwell before winning at Santa Anita last year
Big Evs visited Southwell before winning at Santa Anita last year (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Aidan O’Brien coming to Southwell is quite a unique experience and it only happens maybe once a decade, so it will be nice to make something of it.

“We’re also hoping to entice Big Evs back to do a gallop before the Breeders’ Cup like he did last year. Mick has mooted it to me but it is still to be confirmed.

“If we can begin to be used for that sort of thing, then it can only help the course’s profile. We know it’s not the exact surface (as the dirt in America), but the layout of the course as a one-mile-two-furlong flat oval is wonderful if trying to replicate an American track.”



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O’Brien confident Southwell spin will sharpen Troy’s Classic credentials

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Aidan O’Brien views an upcoming trip to Southwell for a serious workout with some of his “fastest” stablemates as the ideal stepping-stone for City Of Troy ahead of his ultimate test in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The son of American Triple Crown hero Justify has already established himself as the best of his generation on turf, bouncing back from 2000 Guineas disappointment to win the Derby and the Eclipse before dominating from the front to take the Juddmonte International in a course-record time.

O’Brien has long since identified City Of Troy as a horse who could finally provide him with an elusive first victory in one of the world’s most prestigious races on the Del Mar dirt on November 2 – and with connections opting against running in the Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday week, he will instead warm up for his trans-Atlantic mission with a gallop on Southwell’s Tapeta surface on September 20.

“We decided against going to Leopardstown because we didn’t want to use up that run, that’s why we thought we’d go to Southwell instead,” said O’Brien, speaking at an Irish Champions Festival media event at his yard on Monday.

“We went to the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Giant’s Causeway and got beat, we got beat with everything, so we have to tweak something and City Of Troy might go a shade fresher, that’s what we’re hoping.”

While some racecourse gallops can be viewed as nothing more than exhibitions, what O’Brien has planned promises to be anything but.

He added: “He can go a mile, probably with four or five other horses and we’ll go a good, strong pace and see what will happen. He’ll work out of American (starting) stalls, so we’ll have it as close as we can (to a race).

“Obviously we won’t have the surface, but that’s not a bad thing because we’re coming off the grass and it’s a little bit of a step in between, rather than the big jump straight away.

“We’ll work the fastest horses we can and we’ll go very hard for the first half (of the gallop). I don’t know what’s going to happen as any horse we’ve sent to Southwell has never worked well, they always just about finish with their lead horse and maybe this will be the same, I don’t know.”

Having been ridden positively throughout his juvenile career, including an all-the-way victory in the Dewhurst, City Of Troy’s Guineas reverse prompted a change of tactics in the Derby.

However, O’Brien switched tack again at York last month and the master of Ballydoyle appears to be ready to raise the stakes even higher in California, where interestingly the last time the Classic was run at Del Mar in 2021 Knicks Go made all.

“We were waiting to let him go forward, but we only wanted to let him do it before the Classic as while he was aggressive the last day, he’ll be more aggressive the next day,” he said.

“We didn’t want to do that until very late because of what happened in the Guineas. It just took a long time to get back and we had to do it very subtle without him knowing. We had to keep him moving forward, so it took us a long time to get back to (front-running) at York.

“Ryan (Moore) went forward at York, but it was still controlled aggression. I know him and the next day he will hit the gates and want to go.”

O’Brien feels City Of Troy’s combative nature will stand him in good stead for his adventure on the American west coast, but is well aware of how difficult a task it will be.

“We think what he did is going to set him up well for America. We’ve never won the Classic, we’ve tried very hard for 25 years and it’s a very difficult race to win,” he said.

“You’re going to a different world – a different culture, a different track and a different surface. I think for one of our horses to win it, they need to be a lot better than the opposition.

“It’s one of those races you don’t dream about because it’s so hard to win, but you try and hope. Every year you tweak things and look for different horses and different ways of doing it. You look under every stone you can look under and hopefully you’ve looked under enough of them.

“He has so many variables and so many things to get over that he hasn’t encountered before. He’s not simple, if you get into a row with him because he’s a lot of Justify in him and he’s lot of Galileo in him and when you get those I wince. If you’re restricting him, he’ll make you suffer.”

Aidan O’Brien at York
Aidan O’Brien at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

He went on: “He took York very well, he didn’t even blow, he never really got into full tank. He hangs because he’s a hardy customer and he’ll maul you if you’re mauling him – he’s not for kids.

“Obviously in America you try to stay out of the kickback and if you end up getting it you get it, but in my experience you don’t ever get used to it and I don’t think any horse enjoys kickback.

“He always favoured racing aggressively and that’s why from day one he just went out the gates and went. It’s in his nature to do it, but what’s rare about him is he carries it through.

“I’d say he’ll go forward and you’d imagine the faster they go the better it will suit him, but our fast is a little bit different to American fast, so we will watch with interest like everyone else.

“I think they usually fly out the Saturday before. They arrive on the Saturday evening, they’re in quarantine for two days and then they’re out on the track on Tuesday.”

City Of Troy and jockey Ryan Moore after winning the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown
City Of Troy and jockey Ryan Moore after winning the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown (Steven Paston/The Jockey Club)

Win, lose or draw, it appears City Of Troy’s Breeders’ Cup outing will be his swansong, with O’Brien expecting him to be retired to stud next season.

He said: “There’s no doubt probably (he could be better as a four-year-old), but he’s unique and he’s a different kind of a horse, so I’d imagine he’ll have to go off to stud.

“He’s just too different and from day one he was like that. He’s a great shape – he’s not too weak, he’s not too small. He’s perfectly proportioned and balanced and not extreme in any way.”



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Los Angeles heading to Leopardstown before Paris

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Los Angeles appears increasingly likely to join stablemates Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the feature race on day one of Irish Champions Festival weekend.

Auguste Rodin denied Luxembourg back-to-back wins in the Leopardstown showpiece 12 months ago, but for the second year in succession the son of Deep Impact will be on a recovery mission as he looks to put a disappointing display in the King George at Ascot behind him.

Los Angeles, on the other hand, is on the crest of a wave, having won the Irish Derby and the Great Voltigeur since placing third behind Ballydoyle superstar City Of Troy in the Derby at Epsom.

While York’s Great Voltigeur is traditionally a St Leger trial, trainer Aidan O’Brien is favouring a step back in trip rather than up for the son of Camelot ahead of a potential tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“It looks like at the moment Los Angeles is going to run. We had it in our head going to York that we might go that way and that was the reason for doing it,” he said on Monday.

“We thought he’s the kind of horse that could finish in the first three, four or five in a (Irish) Champion Stakes and could go onto an Arc. That’s what we still think and if the ground got soft in France he’d have no problem with that.

“Obviously we were delighted with his run in York. We could go to the Leger with him, but we have three others that look like real Leger horses (Illinois, Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square) that will get the trip very well and we didn’t think that he needs to go that trip.

“It definitely won’t do him any harm to run over a mile and a quarter and we’ll learn a lot about him. He could be an Arc horse and I’d say there’s no doubt he’ll stay in training next year.”

Auguste Rodin will be on a recovery mission in the Irish Champion Stakes
Auguste Rodin will be on a recovery mission in the Irish Champion Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien blamed underfoot conditions for Auguste Rodin’s below-par effort in the King George and is confident he is back firing on all cylinders ahead of the defence of his Leopardstown crown.

“He loves fast ground and his last bit of work was excellent, he showed a lot of zest in it. He went by his lead horse very easy, whereas usually he wouldn’t at that stage of the work. He was very confident and it was a bit different,” he said.

“The plan is to go to Leopardstown and then go to Japan after it. We think he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse that gets a mile and a half, but he doesn’t want any further than that. He’s a very slick horse who travels very well and does everything very easy.”

Reflecting on his Ascot defeat, O’Brien added: “I felt when I walked the track the ground was soft on the inside. I made a bad decision, I should have discussed it with the lads and we should have got out off it. We made the decision to stay in, he got trapped down on the rail behind the pace and we probably turned it into a mile and six race – it was very tough.

“We felt he was on the worst of it (ground), I’m not trying to make excuses but that’s what we felt and the first three all came from the back and wide off the bad ground. They were all good enough reasons for us for the horse to run disappointing.”

O’Brien expects Ryan Moore to keep the faith in Auguste Rodin on Saturday week, with riding plans for Los Angeles and Luxembourg to be made nearer the time.

He added: “If he (Auguste Rodin) runs I’d imagine Ryan will ride him. I suppose if the ground got soft everything might change, but I’d imagine he will ride him.

“Luxembourg is a very consistent, strong horse. He’ll go forward – over a mile and a quarter he doesn’t mind making the running and you have to follow him because he won’t be stopping.”

Detailing some of his other plans for the two days, O’Brien confirmed Ylang Ylang as his likely representative in Leopardstown’s Matron Stakes, while star stayer Kyprios will look to win his second Irish St Leger at the Curragh the following afternoon.

Henri Matisse winning the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh
Henri Matisse winning the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

Unbeaten juvenile Henri Matisse is set to carry the stable’s hopes in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, with Acomb Stakes-winning stablemate The Lion In Winter – ante-post favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Derby – more likely to wait for the Goffs Million on September 28.

“That (National Stakes) was always the plan for Henri Matisse and the lads will decide whether the horse that won in York will run or not, but he’s still there,” said O’Brien.

“If he doesn’t go there he’ll go to the Goffs. He’s being kept on the boil for the National Stakes, but the plan is that he’ll go to the Million.”

Frankel fillies Bedtime Story and Lake Victoria are both under consideration for the Moyglare Stud Stakes, with Fairy Godmother instead being saved for the Cheveley Park at Newmarket.

O’Brien will also have one eye on events in France, with Opera Singer set to test her Arc claims in the Prix Vermeille.



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Ides Of March strolls to Round Tower success

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Ides Of March enhanced his already fine reputation with a comprehensive win in the Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh.

Fourth at the first attempt back in June, Ides Of March then suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of stablemate The Lion In Winter on his second start, with that rival going on to land the Acomb Stakes at York.

Ides Of March finally opened his account at the third time of asking over six furlongs at this track earlier in the month and Aidan O’Brien opted to stick to the sprint trip for this Group Three task.

Ides Of March was an impressive winner at the Curragh
Ides Of March was an impressive winner at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)

Ridden with supreme confidence by Ryan Moore, Ides Of March travelled well through the early stages before asserting his authority in the last two furlongs.

The 2-5 favourite passed the post with three-and-a-quarter lengths to spare over Usdi Atohi with Rudi’s Apple nearly two lengths further back in third.

Ides Of March holds a clutch of autumn entries but O’Brien has pinpointed the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes on September 28 as a likely target.

“He was professional and grew up a lot from the last day,” said O’Brien.

“I’m delighted and we’ll look at the Middle Park with him now. He’s a powerful, fast horse and he finds it easy to go quick. He’s big and he’s strong.

“He was going very easy through the race before Ryan started to let him go.

“I think he’s versatile (ground-wise). Wootton Bassetts handle soft ground as well and he handles fast ground very easy, he’s a very good mover.

“The mare (his dam Nickname) was a very good mare in America (Grade One winner).”



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Dreamy continues perfect start to her career

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Dreamy made it two wins in as many starts with a comfortable victory in the Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes at the Curragh.

A debut winner in a valuable maiden at Goodwood at the start of the month, Dreamy boasts an excellent pedigree as a daughter of American Pharoah out of Yorkshire Oaks winner Tapestry.

Sent off the 6-5 favourite for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, Dreamy always looked in control on her first attempt in Group Three company, kicking for home over furlong out.

Fiery Lucy and Alla Stella put up a strong challenge, but Dreamy had their measure, winning by a length and a half and a short head.

Dreamy was too good for her Curragh rivals
Dreamy was too good for her Curragh rivals (Damien Eagers/PA)

Betfair make her a 10-1 chance from 25s for the Fillies’ Mile, while offering the same price about her in the Oaks next year.

“I’m delighted with her, she’s lovely,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan is very impressed with her. She’s a baby and he was minding and teaching her. She’s a fine, big mare.

“We’ll see whether we go again or not this year, she doesn’t have to.

“Ryan said she was never really engaging at all until they came beside her.”

When asked if she could be a possible Oaks filly, he added: “I’d say that’s what she is, a big Oaks filly.”



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City Of Troy confirmed for Breeders’ Cup workout at Southwell

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City Of Troy will head to Southwell for a racecourse gallop on September 20 as part of his build-up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Winner of the Derby and Eclipse, City Of Troy stamped his authority at York last week when making all for victory in the Juddmonte International, smashing Sea The Stars’ course-record time in the process.

Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners have made no secret of their Classic ambitions, with City Of Troy appearing a perfect candidate for the headline event at Del Mar as he is a son of American Triple Crown winner Justify.

The Ballydoyle handler is now planning to simulate full raceday conditions at Southwell next month, with American starting stalls employed and a team of stablemates set to accompany City Of Troy in a public workout.

City Of Troy delivered a dominant victory in the Derby
City Of Troy delivered a dominant victory in the Derby (John Walton/PA)

Chris Armstrong, who was representing O’Brien at Navan on Thursday afternoon, said: “It’s been confirmed this morning that City Of Troy will go to Southwell on September 20 for a racecourse gallop.

“We’re delighted that Southwell have been able to accommodate the request and Aidan and all the team are delighted that it will fit in nicely to his programme.

“It will be four weeks after York and will give him five weeks before he leaves for the Breeders’ Cup.

“He will work with a group of horses over a distance of about a mile from American stalls with the bell ringing and it should leave him right for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Southwell has been used by O’Brien in the past to prepare his Breeders’ Cup runners, with Giant’s Causeway working there in 2000 before being beaten just a neck in the Classic, while Derby winner and subsequent supersire Galileo did the same a year later, although his American bid was not as successful.

Galileo (right) worked at Southwell at part of his Breeders' Cup preparation
Galileo (right) worked at Southwell at part of his Breeders’ Cup preparation (PA)

Armstrong added: “The finer details such as timings have yet to be confirmed, but we have spoken with Southwell and Aidan and all the team are more than happy to open the doors to everyone and all racing fans and the media can watch the piece of work.

“It will be an experience for everybody and a bit like a normal raceday.

“It will be a new track to him and a new surface which will be good for him.

“He will fly over in the morning, have a rest in the stables like he normally does before a race, work in the afternoon and then fly home in the evening.

“Everything fits into his schedule beautifully and it’s something we are looking forward to.”

City Of Troy has yet to run on anything but turf, with Southwell now the home of a Tapeta track.

The course’s executive director Mark Clayton is looking forward to welcoming O’Brien’s superstar to Nottinghamshire.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Aidan O’Brien, as one of the leading trainers in the world, bring City Of Troy, one of the leading horses in the world this year, to Southwell.

“It’s a testament to the track and the work we do as a team, but also to Tapeta and the surface they delivered us back in 2022, that we are trusted by Aidan to bring a horse of City Of Troy’s calibre to Southwell prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

“I personally didn’t see any of Aidan’s visits in the past, but I have heard all about what historic days they were and this will be exactly the same.

“We are chuffed to have the opportunity to put this on for Aidan and hopefully he is just as chuffed to bring the horse here. It is still at the early stage for us planning the day, but we will plan with Aidan and release a statement about the day closer to the time.”



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O’Brien keeping options open over Los Angeles programme

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Los Angeles will either run in the Betfred St Leger or the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on September 14.

Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner defied a 5lb penalty in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last week, with stablemate Illinois closing him down rapidly in the last of the 12 furlongs.

If he stays at home for the Irish Champion, he will be dropping to 10 furlongs, but should he run at Doncaster, he will be stepping up to a mile and three-quarters.

O’Brien is well stocked for both races, with Auguste Rodin pencilled in for the highlight of the Irish Champions Festival, while at Doncaster, stablemates Illinois, the unbeaten Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square are heading the betting.

With City Of Troy set to skip the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in favour of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Los Angeles could book his ticket for Paris by running well at Leopardstown.

“He could go to either the St Leger or the Irish Champion Stakes. Obviously, if he’s going to the Arc, he could go for the Irish Champion Stakes,” said O’Brien.

“Auguste Rodin could go there as well with Luxembourg. That’s a little bit of a change this week.

“We’ll see what the ground is going to be like at Doncaster and there are three other horses that could run in the St Leger if he (Los Angeles) didn’t run there.

“He seems to have come out of the race (in York) well. We’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”



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Bedtime Story delivers in Debutante to extend perfect record

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It may have lacked the fireworks of some of her previous starts, but Bedtime Story ultimately maintained her unbeaten record with a hard-fought victory in the Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.

A daughter of Frankel out of dual Nunthorpe heroine Mecca’s Angel, Aidan O’Brien’s filly made a winning debut at Leopardstown in June before producing a scintillating display to land the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot by nine and a half lengths.

Having since completed her hat-trick with a comfortable success in Leopardstown’s Silver Flash Stakes, Bedtime Story was a 1-16 favourite to make it four from four in a race her trainer had won on 13 previous occasions, but it was harder work that most would have anticipated.

Ryan Moore’s mount was still in third place passing the furlong marker, with her stablemate Exactly and Jessica Harrington’s Barnavara in her sights.

Moore had to resort to his whip to ensure Bedtime Story bridged the gap, but she did get rolling and was half a length in front of Exactly at the line, with Barnavara a neck further behind in third.

O’Brien said: “We didn’t want to go too fast today as it was a prep for the next day. She has a lot of speed early and Ryan was lovely on her as we didn’t want to empty her out today.

“She needed to get down and race a little bit late, but we couldn’t be happier really.

“She’ll go for the Moyglare now.”

Bedtime Story is an unchanged 3-1 favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas with Coral, who also make her their 5-1 market leader for the Oaks.



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Henri Matisse exhibits star quality at the Curragh

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Henri Matisse strengthened Aidan O’Brien’s potential Classic hand by providing the trainer with a remarkable 17th success in the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

The Ballydoyle handler has unsurprisingly dominated this Group Two contest over the past 30 years, with Giant’s Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001), Gleneagles (2014), Churchill (2016) and last season’s victor Henry Longfellow among his raft of Futurity winners.

Having won his first two starts at this track, including a narrow victory in the Railway Stakes at the end of June, Henri Matisse was a 5-6 favourite to complete his hat-trick and quickened up smartly on his first appearance over seven furlongs to get up and beat Hotazhell by a length.

Paddy Power cut the Wootton Bassett colt to 10-1 from 12-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas, making him their joint-second favourite behind his Acomb Stakes-winning stablemate The Lion In Winter at 7-1.

“I’m very happy with him. He’s lazy and he quickens,” said O’Brien.

“That is what he was doing over six and when he can do it over seven, you would be delighted really. He has that turn of foot.

“He swerved when he got there. He’s green and is still a baby obviously.

“The plan is to go for the National Stakes.”



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O’Brien hails Galileo following 100th individual Group One success

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Aidan O’Brien paid tribute to the remarkable Galileo after Content provided the late superstar stallion with his 100th individual Group One winner at York on Thursday.

For all the son of Sadler’s Wells achieved great things on the track, with a CV featuring big-race victories in the Derby, Irish Derby and King George in 2001, his racing career almost pales into insignificance compared to the astonishing things he has achieved at stud.

His first Group One winner was the Dermot Weld-trained Nightime in the Irish 1,000 Guineas of 2006. His countless top-class offspring of course includes the mighty Frankel, who can lay claim to being the greatest racehorse of them all and who following an unbeaten 14-race career has also gone on to establish himself as a pre-eminent stallion in his own right.

Galileo has also sired five Derby winners in New Approach, Australia, Ruler Of The World, Anthony Van Dyck and Serpentine, as well as a whole host of top-class performers such as Order Of St George, Magical, Minding, Highland Reel and Kyprios.

Galileo died at the age of 23 in 2021, but his legacy very much lives on and he reached the remarkable three-figure mark in terms of top-level triumphs as Content lifted the Yorkshire Oaks.

The three-year-old, who is fittingly out of a dual Nunthorpe winner in Mecca’s Angel, may not be the best horse Galileo has produced, but her trainer views her as a perfect example of the talent and tenacity he handed down to his offspring.

“Galileo is incredible, they (his progeny) are so honest and so genuine. It’s so incredible for us to have had so many of them,” he said.

“You can see what has happened at Ballydoyle, since the end of Sadler’s Wells and then he arrived and won us the Derby.

“The mark he’s going to leave on pedigrees is incredible, from generation to generation.

“She (Content) is a typical example of Galileo. Even if there’s no more left, if their legs can move they put them out there and that’s what she did.

“Right to the end, Ryan said there was no stopping her. Ninety-nine per cent of thoroughbreds will get to that stage and hold up the flag, but Galileos don’t. They’re so genuine and they could be tired today and come out the next day and still put up their best. It’s a very unusual trait in an animal.”

The magnificent Frankel is a son of Galileo
The magnificent Frankel is a son of Galileo (PA)

O’Brien admits replacing a horse of Galileo’s influence at Coolmore Stud is an impossible task, but believes in Justify – sire of Wednesday’s Juddmonte International hero City Of Troy – the team have the perfect heir to his throne.

When asked if we would see the likes of Galileo again, he added: “I don’t think so. Obviously we’re so excited about Justify – we think he’s Galileo with more class.

“That’s why we’re so excited about City (Of Troy), you think he’s tired but he’ll still keep putting out his legs.”



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Content collects Yorkshire Oaks glory for O’Brien and Moore

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Content gained revenge on her Irish Oaks conqueror You Got To Me to claim the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks at York.

A daughter of Galileo out of dual Nunthorpe winner Mecca’s Angel, it was somewhat fitting that Aidan O’Brien’s filly was enjoying her finest hour on the Knavesmire as she registered the biggest victory of her carer.

Keen in the early stages in the hands of Ryan Moore as stablemate Port Fairy led the field along in company with William Haggas’ Sea Theme, the eye was drawn to Emily Upjohn as the runners entered the straight.

John and Thady Gosden’s mare breezed to the head of proceedings in the hands of Kieran Shoemark, but Curragh one-two You Got To Me and Content (3-1 favourite) were never far behind as the trio became looked in a three-way battle in the closing stages.

Content and Ralph Beckett’s Classic heroine edged their way past eventual third Emily Upjohn with the line approaching, but this time around it was the Ballydoyle filly who pulled out extra to become the late, great Galileo’s 100th individual Group One winner.

It was an eighth Yorkshire Oaks for O’Brien, who has now won four of the last five runnings of the mile-and-a-half event.

“She has come forward since the Curragh and every time we have stepped her up in trip she has improved,” said O’Brien.

“We ran her in the fillies’ race on (Irish) Derby weekend, the Pretty Polly, to see if she would get a mile and a quarter and she finished behind two older fillies. Ryan came in and said no doubt she will get a mile and a half and we went to the Irish Oaks and we had a pacemaker that didn’t go fast enough for her and the race never opened up for her.

Aidan O'Brien celebrates another big winner at York
Aidan O’Brien celebrates another big winner at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Ryan gave her an incredible ride and she’s not straightforward or easy. She has a lot of pace and he did an incredible job to get her relaxed. The pace was stronger today and she kept coming. Ryan was surprised because she was so keen but she kept coming from the three-furlong marker. It was incredible ride and she is a very brave filly who will be better in a faster-run race.

“She could go to one of the fillies’ (Arc) trials, she could go to an Arc or a Vermeille or to America. She’s definitely going to be better where the pace is strong, wherever that is, as she is still racing in a gear too high. When she gets into a gear which has other horses out of their comfort zone, she will be comfortable and it will be amazing to see what she can do off that kind of pace.”



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Classic dream alive for O’Brien’s ‘best’ City Of Troy

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Aidan O’Brien reiterated his belief that City Of Troy is the best he has ever trained after watching his superstar colt smash the track record previously held by Sea The Stars in a red-hot Juddmonte International at York.

In a quirky twist, O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter had also clocked a record time earlier in the afternoon in the Acomb Stakes, with the colt the only progeny of that now excellent stallion housed at Ballydoyle.

Racegoers have never been left in any doubt about the regard in which O’Brien holds City Of Troy – after his romp in last year’s Superlative Stakes he went on record saying the colt was producing work at home he had never previously seen.

Victory in the Dewhurst followed on soft ground and he was a red-hot favourite for the 2000 Guineas but a complete no-show there had even the brightest Coolmore minds puzzled.

City Of Troy pulls clear of Calandagan and Ghostwriter
City Of Troy pulls clear of Calandagan and Ghostwriter (Mike Egerton/PA)

Having pulled a rabbit out of the hat 12 months previously when Auguste Rodin won the Derby after similarly bombing out in the Guineas, O’Brien repeated the feat at Epsom and while City Of Troy’s Eclipse victory failed to set the pulse racing, the very testing ground was put up as the reason.

There was to be no excuse on that score in Yorkshire and there was also no hiding place against Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly, top-class filly Bluestocking, Royal Ascot winner Calandagan and Japanese St Leger victor Durezza.

O’Brien ran a pacemaker in Hans Andersen but despite him sporting first-time blinkers, City Of Troy broke quicker and Ryan Moore found himself in front – and there he stayed, winning by a length from Calandagan.

As ever in racing, the question is always ‘what next?’ and being by American Triple Crown winner Justify, the dream of a Breeders’ Cup Classic bid, for which he is 4-1 favourite with Betfair, is very much alive.

O’Brien said: “The lads can do whatever they want but we always dreamed he would be a Classic horse. That’s what we always dreamed.

“It wasn’t the plan today (to make the running) but he hit the gates and Ryan just decided he was going along.

“What happened in the Guineas, we went away from that (making the running) because he frightened us. As a two-year-old, he was very quick early and he would dominate and keep going, which is what he did today but Ryan gave him a brilliant ride, he controlled it brilliantly and finished off very strong.

“I think we’ll see the best of him when he bounces out very strong and is left to roll, he gets into a massive tempo and keeps going.

“People will measure his stride but the length of it in the last two furlongs is incredible really. That’s what he was like at two, he just keeps going and Ryan said he went through the line very strong.”

City Of Troy returns victorious
City Of Troy returns victorious (Mike Egerton/PA)

While there is still a remote possibility of City Of Troy running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – something Moore is keen on – America seems favourite at this stage.

“I know Ryan would love to do the Arc and anything is possible, but the lads will decide where they want to go. You need a very special horse for the Arc and that is what Ryan always thought he was, but it will be discussed,” said O’Brien.

“Everything he did from the day we trained him, he was just the best. The first day we ran him this year, it was like he got covered in a swamp, so we didn’t know where we were. We had to re-do everything to get him back doing things right.

“Today it came back out what we were trying to contain at two and do everything to make sure it didn’t happen again, today it just came naturally back out.

“Ryan contained him as long as he could in front, he didn’t want to over-race and it was only going to the two marker that he really piled it on, but that’s what he used to do at two.

“We wanted to keep him sharp, as we had the Classic in our mind, we didn’t want a slog anywhere. The last day didn’t go right, the ground was soft and the pace was slow, but he still won. That’s what we were hoping, beautiful ground and a flat track.

“It’s incredible the condition of the track, when we walked it, it didn’t feel good to firm, they’ve done an incredible job with the cover of grass.”

Michael Tabor (left) with Aidan O'Brien
Michael Tabor (left) with Aidan O’Brien (PA)

One of the Coolmore triumvirate, Michael Tabor, will be part of the decision-making process and he was in no doubt City Of Troy is the best they have had.

He said: “That was better than anything, and I mean anything!

“He never looked like getting beaten and there’s much more in the tank. He’s a special horse, as Aidan has always said.”



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City Of Troy sparkles to join Juddmonte International legends

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City Of Troy cemented his superstar status when dazzling from the front in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.

All conquering at two, Aidan O’Brien’s son of Justify left 2000 Guineas disappointment in the past with redemption both in the Derby at Epsom and then when registering a battling success in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

With many far from wowed by his heroics in Esher, an all-star cast assembled to take him on in the Ebor Festival’s opening-day highlight.

City Of Troy jumped out alertly in the hands of Ryan Moore, with the rider eager to make the most of his Classic-winning stamina.

Royal Rhyme, City Of Troy’s stablemate Hans Andersen and Ghostwriter were in his immediate slipstream, with Japanese raider Durezza also close by, while those from further back were keen to work their way into contention swinging into the straight.

The Aga Khan’s Calandagan burst out of the pack to lay down his challenge and continue Francis-Henri Graffard’s fine season, but as both the French raider and City Of Troy scorched clear of the field, the Royal Ascot winner was unable to reel in Ballydoyle’s star performer as he broke the course record previously held by Sea The Stars.

City Of Troy crossed the line a length clear of Calandagan, with Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter claiming third, as the 5-4 favourite silenced any remaining doubters in scintillating style.

City Of Troy impressed with his all-the-way win at York
City Of Troy impressed with his all-the-way win at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m obviously always saying too much about him and they are saying he smashed the course record there and it didn’t go according to plan,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan decided to make the running on him and what an incredible ride he gave him.

“I’m so delighted for the lads and we always felt he was something very different. Things haven’t gone right for him some days, but he still overcomes them which makes it very special.

“He is a horse who loves to be up with the pace and a strong pace and he gets it really well. Everything he does, he stays, he is tough and we’re hoping the lads might go to the (Breeders’ Cup) Classic with him, that would be some dream.

“He has natural pace out the stalls like Giant’s Causeway had but quicker. What happened in the Guineas frightened us and we didn’t want to do that any more, we wanted to drop him in and teach him to relax and do all the right things.

“He did it with Ryan unplanned today, so it was in there wanting to come out. It was incredible what he did there and the last half of the race, what he was doing was incredible, I thought he went through the line really strong.

“He is the best I have trained and we thought that as a two-year-old, we always thought that. He is the most special horse we’ve ever had. We went off the road the first run this year and right into the swamp, but for him to come out of it and to get to where he is today is incredible.”



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Los Angeles digs deep to grind out Great Voltigeur victory

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The star of Los Angeles continues to rise after the Irish Derby scorer registered a gutsy success in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

Third behind Ballydoyle stablemate City Of Troy at Epsom, Aidan O’Brien’s son of Camelot gained his own Classic triumph at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent on his last start.

Supplemented into this Group Two event, he was sent off 5-4 favourite in the hands of Ryan Moore as he became the first horse to win the Knavesmire contest under a penalty.

Los Angeles was settled in third as O’Brien-trained pair Euphoric and Illinois took the field along, but once shaken up to bridge the gap to his stablemates, he responded to Moore’s urgings to work his way to the head of proceedings.

The challengers mounted at all angles as Los Angeles needed to pull out all the stops inside the final furlong but neither rallying runner-up Illinois or Harry Charlton’s King’s Gambit could get past Moore and his willing ally as he hung on by a neck.

He was made the 5-2 outright favourite for the St Leger by Paddy Power in the aftermath, but it remains to be seen in which direction connections will head in the autumn.

O’Brien said: “He was very tough and we were delighted with him. He’s just a lazy horse that gets a mile and a half well.

“Obviously the lads will make that decision (where he runs next), but the second horse stays very well and a mile and six (furlongs) is probably where he is going to be seen at his best.

“Ryan’s horse (Los Angeles) can do either – he can go up in trip, but he has plenty of class, so he could go back for an Irish Champion Stakes and finish in the first four and go on to an Arc, or he can go to the Leger with the others.

“The horse that won in Goodwood (Jan Brueghel) would probably get the Leger trip very well, Illinois would probably get the trip very well and Los Angeles could get it as well, but would have an option of going shorter trips as well.

“He’s a massive, handsome, powerful horse and he has the options and he’s very versatile ground-wise.

“I’m delighted for the lads and everyone. It’s hard to win these races, so it for it to come together, especially at a place like this, is great.”

King’s Gambit seen here winning at Newbury
King’s Gambit seen here winning at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)

Charlton was satisfied with King’s Gambit’s effort but has yet to consider future plans.

He said: “He ran a lovely race. William (Buick) just thought he stays a mile and a half but that felt more like a mile and six on him the way they rode it.

“He came there to win his race but he was slightly on empty, but he’s run great. He made a lot of ground from three out to close up but then he just emptied.

“He’s a 10- or 12-furlong horse but 12 in less extreme circumstances.

“We’ve nothing in mind, I’ll talk to Mohammed Jaber and see what he wants to do.”



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