Tag Archive for: Aidan O’Brien

Mission Central accomplished in Curragh victory

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Mission Central blasted out of the stalls and never saw another rival to win the Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes in taking fashion at the Curragh.

The son of No Nay Never is a rarity in that he hails from Aidan O’Brien’s yard and has a blue-blood pedigree but is a gelding, having shown wayward tendencies when making his debut at Dundalk in April when only fifth of six.

Following a 120-day break he reappeared at the Curragh earlier this month and absolutely bolted up.

With Wayne Lordan replacing the injured Ryan Moore, by halfway Mission Central had everything bar Ipanema Queen off the bridle.

Wayne Lordan stepped in to replace Ryan Moore on Mission Central
Wayne Lordan stepped in to replace Ryan Moore on Mission Central (Damien Eagers/PA)

With a furlong to run Listed winner Ipanema Queen could not keep up, but Mission Central (11-8 favourite) clearly has a quirk or two still left as his head began to get a bit higher and he was beginning to pull himself up.

That allowed Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer The Publican’s Son to make rapid headway and close to within three-quarters of a length and while that was a very promising debut, the market leader held on.

“Wayne said, unusually, he was still green,” said O’Brien, who pointed towards an outing at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.

“He said he was there at halfway and he was waiting. He said he has a lot of natural speed.

“He learned a bit today, he had to get down and knuckle down.

“I’d say he’s quick, five would be no problem to him, and that’s slow ground.

“Wayne said he felt he was only hacking and the lads in the race felt they were flying, that’s the sign of a speed horse.

“I suppose he could be a Flying Childers-type of horse, he’s very fast and I’d imagine that’s the type of horse he is.”

Hawk Mountain (left) gradually pulled clear to win the opener
Hawk Mountain (left) gradually pulled clear to win the opener (Damien Eagers/PA)

O’Brien’s Hawk Mountain looks a nice middle-distance type for next year having opened his account at the second time of asking in the John Ormonde Wexford Sand Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.

Fifth on his debut, he made every yard of the running under Lordan to justify 10-11 favouritism.

He holds entries in the Beresford Stakes and the Dewhurst, but that would represent a drop in trip having won over a mile on this occasion.

“I’m delighted with him, he came forward lovely from the first day,” said O’Brien.

“He’s a lovely straightforward horse.”

Injury means Ryan Moore could miss the rest of the season

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Ryan Moore may miss the rest of the Flat season with a stress fracture to his femur.

Moore was booked to ride at the Curragh on Saturday, but was taken off all his mounts by midday.

Moore is retained jockey for Aidan O’Brien’s powerful Ballydoyle yard, with the Coolmore operation now facing the prospect of being without one of the world’s best jockeys for the business end of the campaign, with countless big races on the horizon.

Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore
Aidan O’Brien with Ryan Moore (Niall Carson/PA)

O’Brien said: “Ryan is good, he was having plenty of trouble with his right leg since Irish Derby weekend.

“They were doing everything to it to try to get it right, but they couldn’t get it right so he went for scans and an X-ray on it yesterday. He has a fracture in his femur.

“Since the Irish Derby weekend he’s been struggling with it, but he’s been doing his best with it.

“When they found a stress fracture in his femur that was the answer. There is only one thing that is going to fix it and that’s time.”

When asked if he expected him to ride again this season, O’Brien said: “He’d be very lucky, I’d say.

Ryan Moore with Queen Camilla at York earlier this month
Ryan Moore with Queen Camilla at York earlier this month (Ian Forsyth/PA)

“We’ve plenty of jockeys and the lads are all there, Wayne (Lordan) is gone (suspended) for Irish Champions Festival at the moment, but all the usual people, yhey’re all there, so everyone will row in.”

He went on: “Ryan runs a lot and they think it could be running and that might have originally started it. Then in Germany, when he was going to the start on the filly (Garden Of Eden at Dusseldorf) she whipped around and he landed on his feet and it could have aggravated it and opened it up.

“They have been treating him for a lot of different stuff, the back of his knee and they thought he had burst something at the back of his heel, and they thought it might be ligaments and all this different stuff.

“It was only when he got whatever kind of a scan he had yesterday that they realised he had a fracture to his femur, so that was that.

“In all fairness to him, he’s been riding for probably two months with a fracture to his femur. Talk about concrete, that man is concrete. But with a little bit of time, he’ll be back.”

Moulin option for The Lion In Winter revival mission

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The Lion In Winter could be set for a quick return to France for the Prix du Moulin on September 7.

Favourite during the off season for both the 2000 Guineas and Derby, so far his season has not gone to plan.

Beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Dante, he was also well held in the Derby before being narrowly touched off in the Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs.

He then proved disappointing again back up to a mile in the Prix Jacques le Marois when attempting to make all.

Despite that latest reversal, the son of Sea The Stars could now be set for further Group One action on the continent, with O’Brien confident a mile is his forte.

O’Brien said: “He’s good. We went in front on him and he didn’t like it.

“I’d say he’s probably a miler but he probably needs to take his time a little bit in his races.

“He could go back to France for the race over a mile, the Moulin, that could be him but we have others for it like Henri (Matisse) so it’s whether he runs with him or not, depending on what the lads want to do.”

Precise moment comes with Prestige Stakes victory

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Precise proved well named as she enhanced her reputation by taking perfect aim at the Virgin Bet Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.

Off the mark at the second attempt at Cork earlier this month, Aidan O’Brien’s youngster was sent off 5-2 second-favourite on this raiding mission in the hands of Wayne Lordan.

Never far away from the pace, the daughter of Starspangledbanner fought her way to the front with a furlong to run and showed a tremendous attitude to repel the persistent challenge of Sir Mark Prescott’s 13-8 market leader Moon Target, scoring by three-quarters of a length.

It was O’Brien’s first win in the Group Three event, a race that serves as a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Del Mar in November. Paddy Power make her 25-1 from 40s for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

Lordan said: “She’s a very professional filly, she ran over six furlongs at Fairyhouse the first day and learned plenty and then stepped up to seven furlongs and won her maiden quite well.

“We always thought she could win her maiden at six and then go up in trip, but as it happened she won her maiden at seven. She has pace and what you like about her is when I get down into her she gets seven quite well.

“She looked comfortable and when I hit the front about a furlong out she pricked one ear so she was hanging on to a little bit which is always a nice sign as it shows she wasn’t doing the full limit, so that was good.”

Precise in action at Goodwood
Precise in action at Goodwood (Steven Paston/PA)

On possible future plans, he added: “I’ll leave running plans to them (Aidan and the owners), they’ve been at it years and do it very well, I’m happy to just turn up when I’m asked to.

“She’s a filly with pace, but like I say, we always thought seven would be a nice trip for her and today she travelled good. She hit the line well enough where you would think going up another furlong would be an option as well.”

Moon Target went into the race with a lofty reputation after impressing at both Newmarket and Yarmouth so far this summer.

However, she never quite looked at ease on the track and was unable to join the Heath House master’s Red Camellia on the roll of honour, instead joining the handler’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista on the list of those beaten in this race when well fancied.

Moon Target lost her unbeaten record
Moon Target lost her unbeaten record (Steven Paston/PA)

“I thought there was a lot to be disappointed about because I hoped she would win,” Prescott told ITV Racing.

“She’s a long-striding filly and I just felt little bits and pieces went wrong, I still thought she would beat Aidan’s filly a furlong out but she kept on going very well.

“I always thought early on she was a firm ground filly and I’m maybe wrong, but she’s got a very long action so perhaps Goodwood doesn’t suit her as much as Newmarket and Yarmouth and perhaps it’s more that than the ground, that’s just my theory.

“She will run in the Fillies’ Mile probably and hope she can do better there. I was disappointed she was beat, but she probably ran OK.”

Aidan O’Brien eyeing Leger date for Derby hero Lambourn

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The Betfred St Leger appears to be the most likely next port of call for Lambourn after the dual Derby winner’s defeat in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien raised Britain’s oldest Classic and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as possible options for his Epsom and Curragh hero prior to his trip to the Knavesmire, but the son of Australia was beaten into fifth place at Group Two level.

The Ballydoyle handler houses the red-hot favourite for the St Leger in Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia, but Lambourn is also under serious consideration for the Doncaster showpiece on September 13.

O’Brien said: “The Voltigeur was only a sprint down the straight and was a waste of a race really. They only hacked and it was just a day at the races.

“It is very possible that he will go for the St Leger. He didn’t even blow after the race. We just needed to get a race into him.”

On the same day Lambourn could be in action at Doncaster, O’Brien plans to saddle Delacroix for what he hopes will be a third successive clash with Ombudsman in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Delacroix was a narrow winner when the pair met in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in early July, but Ombudsman turned the tables in a fascinating Juddmonte International on Wednesday after the latter’s pacemaker Birr Castle slipped the field before being reeled in late.

Of Delacroix, O’Brien added: “He’s good, hopefully it will be back to Leopardstown and hopefully John (Gosden) and Sheikh Mohammed will come (with Ombudsman), we’ll have something to look forward to then.

“York was just a Mickey Mouse race really.”

Constitution River too strong for Futurity rivals

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Constitution River made all the running to continue Aidan O’Brien’s domination of the the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes.

Giant’s Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001), Gleneagles (2014) and Henri Matisse (2024) are among 17 previous winners of the Group Two contest for the Ballydoyle handler and Constitution River was a 5-6 favourite to add to his tally under Wayne Lordan.

A close second on his Newmarket debut before bolting up at the Galway Festival, the Wootton Bassett colt put that experience to good use up the Curragh straight, bowling along in front before going through the gears with two furlongs to run to leave his four rivals trailing in his wake.

Course-and-distance winner Geryon did his best to go with the leader, but Constitution River was well on top as he passed the post with two lengths in hand.

He said: “He’s a lovely, straightforward horse. He’d a lovely run first time and was still very green when he won the next day.

“Wayne gave him a lovely ride, and he quickened well.”

Paddy Power make Constitution River a 14-1 shot for next year’s 2000 Guineas, with O’Brien looking to move up to Group One level now.

He added: “Obviously you have to look at the National Stakes with him, and he’s going to be very happy going up in trip whenever that time comes.”

Morny magic on the cards from Gstaad and company

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Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad is Aidan O’Brien’s chosen representative as he goes in search of a sixth victory in what looks a mouthwatering edition of the Sumbe Prix Morny on Sunday.

Johannesburg (2001), Blackbeard (2022) and Whistlejacket (2024) are the Ballydoyle handler’s last three winners of the juvenile Group One at Deauville and in Gstaad he saddles another leading contender.

The Starspangledbanner colt got the better of his top-class stablemate True Love when making a winning debut at Navan in May and followed up with a dominant victory at Royal Ascot the following month.

Having since missed a planned rematch with True Love in the Phoenix Stakes, Gstaad has been rerouted to France and O’Brien said: “All has been good with him so far after he had to miss the Phoenix.

“I don’t think the ground matters to him, it was beautiful ground at Deauville last week anyway so that would suit him.

“He’s been good and I think there’s improvement in him since the Coventry.”

Gstaad renews rivalry with the Clive Cox-trained Coppull, who was just over three lengths behind when third in the Coventry and has since impressed in winning the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

Cox said: “We were thrilled with his success in the Richmond and he’s pleased me since.

“I think it was very much a step forward with more experience at Goodwood and I think the track was more able to showcase his ability.

“I’m very pleased he’s in great nick for Sunday, fingers crossed the ground will be fine and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

The only filly in the six-strong field is Venetian Sun, who since making a successful start to her career at Carlisle has landed the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket, beating Thursday’s Lowther Stakes winner Royal Fixation on the latter occasion.

Trainer Karl Burke said: “I’m looking forward to it. She’s travelled over there and as long as she gets in the paddock in the shape she left I’ll be very happy.

“She’s in great form and obviously her form is rock solid. Her form all along has been franked and apart from True Love, who blotted her copybook in the Phoenix the other day, she probably has the best juvenile filly form going so far this season.

“We think she goes there with a big chance and we’ll see how good she is.”

Further strength in depth is added by Charlie Appleby’s Wise Approach, who was second to O’Brien’s Charles Darwin in the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal meeting before routing the opposition in Newbury’s Rose Bowl in mid-July.

Speaking on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “Wise Approach was impressive on his last performance. He needs to step up again in this company, but we feel he has the ability.

“The style of race and track at Deauville should suit and hopefully he gets a nice, sound surface. It is a strong field and a great race to participate in.”

Meanwhile, American raider Outfielder bids to provide Wesley Ward with his fourth Morny success, with jockey David Egan thrilled to be aboard the exciting youngster as retained rider for Amo Racing, who own the Speightstown colt together with former MLB star Jayson Werth and Ward himself.

“Yeah (I’m excited),” Egan said. “I sat on him the other morning, feels great and can’t wait.

“He was meant to race at Royal Ascot so it’s been a long time coming.

“He’s won a maiden so he’s got to step up big, but he’s the type of horse that Wesley knows what he’s doing, he’s prepared well, travelled over good, looks a picture and goes there in great form, so fingers crossed he’s good enough.”

There is one sole French-trained runner in the race with Henri-Francois Devin’s Imperial Me Cen.

Frescobaldi helps Ryan Moore reach century of York winners

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Ryan Moore secured his 100th winner at York aboard Frescobaldi in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes.

It has not been the week many expected for Moore, with dual Derby hero Lambourn and Eclipse winner Delacroix both suffering defeat.

However, he did steer the Richard Hughes-trained Star Of Mehmas to a lucrative handicap success on Wednesday and having made it 99 course winners when getting back in the Group One-winning groove on Minnie Hauk in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks, he reached the landmark on Friday.

Frescobaldi, fifth at the Curragh and second at Fairyhouse on his two previous starts for Aidan O’Brien, was sent off at 100-30 to make it third time lucky in what is traditionally one of the strongest maidens of the season, with a total prize fund of £100,000 up for grabs.

Always to the fore, Frescobaldi was coaxed to the front approaching the final furlong and knuckled down well for pressure to see off the challenge of promising newcomer Spyce by three-quarters of a length.

On reaching his century on the Knavesmire, Moore said: “I’ve always enjoyed riding at York, it’s a great racecourse and hopefully we can keep coming back here.”

Minnie Hauk hits another winning note in Yorkshire Oaks

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Minnie Hauk completed an Oaks four-timer with a neat victory in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

One of two runners for Aidan O’Brien in the Group One feature, the daughter of Frankel came into the York Group One with Cheshire, English and Irish renewals on her CV this term and was ridden by Ryan Moore as the 8-15 favourite.

Her stablemate Garden Of Eden set the pace and David O’Meara’s Estrange did ensure the winner had a race, but the triumph was ultimately light work by three and a half lengths on the line.

O’Brien said: “She’s beautiful, she does everything right, she cruises, she’s a lovely mover and obviously the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup Turf, all those races are there for her.

Minnie Hauk adds the Yorkshire Oaks to her haul
Minnie Hauk adds the Yorkshire Oaks to her haul (PA)

“Ryan said the (Breeders’ Cup) Turf, so she’s obviously given him an unbelievable feel. Ryan gave her a class ride, he was very cool on her. She is classy and he gave her a very confident ride.

“It wasn’t going to be a Mickey Mouse race today, they were going to go an even gallop without going crazy. Ryan has always said the stronger the tempo, the better we’re going to see.

“She’s very exciting.”

O’Brien – who saw Delacroix and dual Derby winner Lambourn suffer defeat on Wednesday – went on: “We’ve always felt the better the race the better she’ll be.

“It was good for Ryan, he had a tough day yesterday and things didn’t work out but the professional that he is he didn’t flinch.

“It was a nicely-run race, even though there were only four in it, I think the second is a nice filly, isn’t she.

“She’s won well in the end our filly, she obviously stays very well and always finishes her race off well. She doesn’t kill herself getting there but she’s always finishing.

“She has to be close to the top of our pecking order for the Arc, she’s an improving filly at this time of year.

“She could go to the Breeders’ Cup Turf but also the Arc. Whirl could go with her.

“Whirl could go to the Vermeille or Irish Champion, but there’s a good chance Delacroix goes back to the Irish Champion and if John (Gosden) brings his horse (Ombudsman) it will be great.”

Queen Camilla with the connections of Minnie Hauk
Queen Camilla with the connections of Minnie Hauk (Richard Hauk/PA)

Co-owner Michael Tabor said: “I think she won very comfortably, she’s obviously very good and looking forward maybe she will run in the Arc or the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully we can keep her in training as a four-year-old and enjoy her.

“There’s no secret to the success. First of all we have a very good trainer but we try to breed the best to the best as we all do, like Godolphin and Juddmonte. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

“Yesterday was not a disaster, but it was tough. It’s tough when you lose which is why you have to appreciate when you win because it is not easy.

“Minnie Hauk beat Whirl at Epsom and dare I say their next races will be the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup for one or the other and hopefully they’ll have good chances in those races.”

Minnie Hauk at concert pitch for Yorkshire Oaks date

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Minnie Hauk bids to win a fourth different Oaks in the Pertemps Network-sponsored Yorkshire version on Thursday.

Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel filly has been outstanding so far this season, collecting three successive Oaks titles starting with the Listed Cheshire contest, before adding Classic strikes in both the Epsom and Curragh editions.

Now she turns her attention to the Knavesmire, with only three rivals opting to take her on in the mile-and-a-half Group One – including Ribblesdale-winning stablemate Garden Of Eden.

“This was always the obvious place to bring Minnie Hauk after the Curragh and she seems in good form since then,” said O’Brien.

“The trip and ground are perfect for her and since the Irish Oaks everything has gone well with her.

“Garden Of Eden won the Ribblesdale and then we sent her for the German Oaks but that didn’t work out.

“She was drawn very badly and she just never really got into it, it never happened.”

Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen was eighth behind Minnie Hauk in the Oaks at Epsom, the only real blip in a consistent career thus far that includes a Group Two success in the Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp last time out.

“Qilin Queen is a lovely filly who has done nothing wrong in her career,” the trainer said.

“The Oaks was the only bad run in her career and I think you can put that down to the soft ground and she probably wasn’t that happy on the track.

“However, on top of the ground she’s really not put a foot wrong and we know she stays the trip well.

“She will have to step forward significantly to challenge this lot, but she’s entitled to.”

David O’Meara’s Estrange is the other British-trained entrant, a striking grey who has won both starts this season when taking the Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes and then the Lancashire Oaks.

She steps up to the top level, although connections are prepared to make a late call on her participation on the Knavesmire, eager to ensure an easier surface for the four-year-old.

“We’ll have a chat to connections tonight and see what they think,” said O’Meara at York on Wednesday.

“I walked it on Monday and I thought they had put plenty of water on and it felt good to soft. The (slow) times (today) could be a little bit of headwind affecting them as much as anything else but I thought they had watered very well.”

Leopardstown option for Delacroix following York eclipse

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Aidan O’Brien could target Irish Champion Stakes compensation with Delacroix after he came off second best in his rematch with Ombudsman in the Juddmonte International at York.

The Ballydoyle runner bounced back from Derby disappointment to win a pulsating renewal of the Eclipse in early July, coming from an unpromising position to somehow grab victory from the jaws of defeat at the chief expense of Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor Ombudsman in a Sandown thriller.

The latter was the 7-4 favourite to gain his revenge in what turned out to be an even more fascinating affair on the Knavesmire, with Ombudsman’s pacemaker Birr Castle slipping the field and building up a huge lead over the chasing pack.

The big two eventually wore him down, but it was John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman who was three and a half lengths clear at the line, with Delacroix only beating 150-1 shot Birr Castle to the runner-up spot by half a length.

O’Brien said: “It was just a mess really wasn’t it? We had discussed before the race that if the pacemaker went and nobody followed him we would follow him, so obviously when they jumped out Ryan (Moore) thought they were going to follow the pacemaker but made the decision to sit in.

“Obviously when he sat in they just kept going slower and slower and slower and he was in a pocket and that was it, it was finished. It was over really as all they have done is sprint down the straight and the rest is history.

“Our horses usually like high-tempo races, but this was the way this time and John’s horse won and it was what he wanted. He got the result and we didn’t today.”

Delacroix’s defeat rounded off a disappointing day for O’Brien, having seen his dual Derby hero Lambourn finish only fifth in the preceding Great Voltigeur Stakes.

He added: “It happens every day of the week and it will happen again. Remember, you learn more from losing than winning.

“We learnt if he’s well we will go back to Leopardstown with Delacroix and hopefully this won’t happen again.

“This horse doesn’t mind making the running and has won from the front, so he would be very happy doing that.”

Andrew Balding’s high-class mare See The Fire finished fourth, with Japanese raider Danon Decile – making his first appearance since beating last month’s King George hero Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic in April – ultimately disappointing in fifth.

Trainer Shogo Yasuda said: “We couldn’t show his real ability, but this experience will be great for the future. I’m sorry we couldn’t show his true ability.

“We may have got it wrong, but we got great support and we want to thank them for that. Especially James Horton (who has had the horse stabled at his yard) and many other people who were really important for helping us while we were here.

“It was really unfortunate we couldn’t show himself at his best for everyone.”

Last of all in sixth was Francis-Henri Graffard’s previously unbeaten French challenger Daryz.

There was some confusion as to whether the three-year-old’s rider Mickael Barzalona had weighed in afterwards, prompting an objection from the clerk of the scales, but it was eventually confirmed he had and the result stood.

Graffard said: “He lacked experience during the race. He was racing strongly on the bridle and looking at everything. He picked up really nicely but then just got tired late on.

“We’ll see how he comes back and make a plan.”

Aidan O’Brien still positive despite Lambourn’s Voltigeur defeat

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Aidan O’Brien was not too despondent after watching his dual Derby winner Lambourn trail home in fifth place in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur at York.

A mildly surprising winner at Epsom, he then doubled up at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent and despite giving weight away all round to his rivals, he was sent off the 4-5 favourite to confirm his position as the best mile-and-a-half colt of his generation.

However, Ryan Moore was hard at work from some way out as first stablemate Stay True loomed up looking a threat, before the Ballydoyle duo were swamped by Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras.

The winner had scored impressively in the Dante at the track in May but finished well behind Lambourn at both Epsom and the Curragh and had subsequently been gelded.

O’Brien fielded four in the Group Two and they filled the final four positions.

Lambourn is now 5-1 for the St Leger with Coral as his stable companion Scandinavia hardened to 4-5 favourite for the final Classic.

“He went grand, they went steady and he’s lazy, I think it was a steadily-run race,” said O’Brien of Lambourn.

“All of them ran grand. The reason we ran Lambourn here was so that he had the option of either the Leger or the Arc.

“I don’t think the Leger trip will be a problem, we know he stays a mile and a half well.

“Ryan (Moore) said he felt like he got a little but tired but we’ll see how he is.

“Stay True ran a lovely race, he’s always looked a lovely horse for the Leger so it looks like he’ll be happy doing that.”

One horse who enhanced his reputation despite losing his unbeaten record was the Paddy Twomey-trained Carmers, the Queen’s Vase winner from Royal Ascot who was dropping in trip.

He got caught flat-footed when the pace quickened before staying on for second, beaten a length.

“He maybe didn’t get the run of the race but I think it was a very good trial for the Leger,” said Twomey.

“I think he’s learned more today than he had in any race he won. It’s a big run and back up to the mile and six (furlongs) will suit him.

“I don’t think the ground makes any difference to him.”

Lambourn still ‘definitely’ in the Voltigeur mix, says O’Brien

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Aidan O’Brien is giving serious consideration to running his dual Derby winner Lambourn in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York next week.

The Australia colt emulated his sire by striking Classic gold at Epsom and the Curragh in June and is now ready to step up his preparations for a major autumn target.

For a long time another Classic bid in the St Leger at Doncaster seemed likely, but with stablemate Scandinavia throwing his hat into that particular ring with victory in the Goodwood Cup, Lambourn may instead be bound for Paris and a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

When asked whether Lambourn could step back to Group Two level on the Knavesmire, O’Brien told Sky Sports Racing: “He could, we’ve a lot of horses kind of ready for the Voltigeur, some are just about ready and some are probably not going to make it.

“Lambourn definitely could. We’ll see how he is and his next target then can be either the Leger or the Arc. I think the lads are thinking Scandinavia is going to be trained for the Leger now – if the ground was nice he would go there and Lambourn wouldn’t go there, but if it was the other way Lambourn would go there.

“Lambourn probably needs a race between now and the Leger or the Arc and it (Great Voltigeur) is a race that could suit him.

“He’s a straightforward, honest, no-nonsense horse. He does what he has to do and doesn’t do any more.”

Another Ballydoyle inmate with Arc aspirations is last year’s third Los Angeles, who made an excellent start to his campaign with successive wins at the Curragh but could finish only fifth as a hot favourite for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Los Angeles and Ryan Moore after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Los Angeles and Ryan Moore after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Niall Carson/PA)

Having since enjoyed a mid-season break, he is set to return to competitive action in the Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

“We were thinking he could go to the Royal Whip and go and improve a lot,” O’Brien added.

“He’s had a break since Ascot and we were thinking if he went to the Curragh this weekend he could go to the Prix Foy as an Arc trial or he could go to the Irish Champion Stakes as an Arc trial.

“All those things are open, but he’s just starting back and he’ll be running with no pressure win, lose or draw (this weekend). We’d just like to get a run into him to get him ready for the autumn.

“The Arc has been his target all the time. We tightened him up a bit too much in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and because of that he just had to have a little rest. He’s come back happy, but will progress a lot before the Arc.”

O’Brien also had news of Henri Matisse, last seen finishing third in the Sussex Stakes behind shock 150-1 winner Qirat.

O’Brien said: “He’ll go probably for the Prix du Moulin. Goodwood was a little bit of a disaster – it was really only a four-furlong dash in the second half of the race.

“It was one of those races that is hard to work out, but we were very happy with the run, Ryan (Moore) was very happy with him and we think he’s still progressing.

“We haven’t seen the best of him yet, we think.”

Eclipse injury forces Camille Pissarro retirement

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Prix du Jockey Club winner Camille Pissarro has been retired due to an injury sustained while running in the Coral-Eclipse.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the Wootton Bassett colt also won at the highest level as a juvenile when taking the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere by a neck from Rashabar.

Third to stablemate Henri Matisse in the French 2000 Guineas, the step up in trip suited him in the French Derby and stud plans will be announced shortly.

O’Brien told Coolmore: “Camille Pissarro pulled a shoe at Sandown and was quite sore afterwards.

“We had him X-rayed, and a fissure fracture was found in his fetlock. The decision was then made to retire him.

“Camille Pissarro was an extremely classy colt; he had speed and class. He won the Lagardere on Arc weekend last year at two, and then he showed everyone how good he was in the French Derby. He was very classy.”

O’Brien has Champions Weekend in mind for Montreal

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Montreal, a hugely impressive eight-length winner at Leopardstown on Thursday, is heading to the Irish Champions Festival weekend.

Aidan O’Brien’s superbly-bred Sea The Stars colt stepped up markedly on his debut effort, putting his race to bed in a matter of strides for Wayne Lordan.

He holds an entry in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 14 over seven furlongs, while the day-earlier KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes over a mile could also come into the equation back at Leopardstown.

“He’d improved from his debut at Leopardstown when he was very green and finished third,” said O’Brien.

“We like him and he showed what we thought he might when he wasn’t as green, he was impressive.

“I think he could go back to Leopardstown on Champions Weekend, something like that might be next.”

O’Brien also confirmed the departure of two smart three-year-olds from his ranks, with Irish Derby runner-up Serious Contender sold to race in Hong Kong and Hampton Court Stakes winner Trinity College also on the move.

The trainer said: “Serious Contender’s form is excellent and obviously we’re sorry to see him go. He’s a good horse and will do very well.

“We thought he couldn’t get beat in Ascot (when second to Merchant) and then the one that beat us was entered in the King George.

“Trinity College has gone to Australia.”