Tag Archive for: Gstaad

Gstaad going up in distance in bid to be National hero

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Gstaad is expected to thrive over seven furlongs when he tries the trip for the first time in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh next weekend.

A hugely impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, he met with defeat on his next start in what looked a red-hot Prix Morny at Deauville.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien was encouraged by the way he finished that race off though, and expects him to improve for the step up in trip.

Gstaad was a brilliant winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot
Gstaad was a brilliant winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“Gstaad will love seven furlongs,” said O’Brien. “He went to France but it was a little bit early, he came back heavier than he went so he’s going to be very comfortable at seven, he always was.

“The original plan was that he was going to go to the Curragh for a stiff six (Phoenix Stakes) but we didn’t get to go obviously. The filly (True Love) was to go to Deauville but they had to swap around.

“That was the way it worked but it didn’t suit either, the filly would probably be better over a quick six and he would have been better over a stiff six but that’s the way it was.

“He’s a fair horse, he stays, he’s quick, he’s a big hardy horse and you could see him going through the line at Deauville.”

He may be joined in the National Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival by Italy, second to Gewan in the Acomb Stakes at York.

“It’s possible Italy could join him, he ran well at York. He got back a little bit, he’s still a little immature mentally but we’re happy with him since so it’s a strong possibility he will,” said O’Brien.

Another potentially smart juvenile from the yard is Montreal, who is heading towards the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown a day earlier.

The son of Sea The Stars could be joined by a plethora of stablemates.

“Montreal was very impressive at Leopardstown when he won the last day,” added O’Brien.

“The Frankel horse who won in Killarney is a possible (Benvenuto Cellini) and the Frankel horse that won at the Curragh is a possible (New Zealand), as is the Frankel that won at Galway, Action. We’ve the horse that won at Goodwood by Camelot, Isaac Newton, he’s possible. They’re all possibles.”

Composing is building a fine reputation
Composing is building a fine reputation (Damien Eagers/PA)

Composing looks a very nice type among the fillies and is set to head the Moyglare Stud Stakes team.

He said: “Composing won very well the last day. She’s a very straightforward, honest to God filly.

“She doesn’t mind making the running and you have to follow her because she stays. She’s a good filly so that will be the plan with her.

“Beautify could run, she won a Group Two at the Curragh a while ago but she couldn’t run any more because she had penalties wherever she went. She’d be very happy going up to seven.

“There’s the filly who won at Goodwood as well (Precise) she might go or she might wait.”

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.

Gstaad given Prix Morny option after missing Phoenix

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Gstaad could be rerouted to the Prix Morny at Deauville after bypassing Saturday’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s Coventry Stakes winner was due to clash with his fellow Royal Ascot-winning stablemate True Love in the Curragh Group One but the handler was not totally satisfied with Gstaad’s condition on Friday.

After overnight monitoring, O’Brien opted to declare Gstaad a non-runner and as long as the son of Starspangledbanner returns to form in the coming days, he could seek consolation in the French Group One on August 24.

O’Brien said: “He had no temperature and everything was right, but he didn’t eat up.

“Looking at that type of thing, he could have a temperature tomorrow and if he has a temperature tomorrow, every hour he has a temperature he needs a week off.

“If he doesn’t have a temperature and nothing is wrong in the next few days he’ll go to Deauville for the Morny.

“The original plan for the filly (True Love) was to go for the Morny. I don’t know why I left her in (the Phoenix Stakes) but there was something in my head and that’s what happened and how it is.

“Sometimes when you are looking at them every day it’s a feeling you get.”

Gstaad ruled out of Phoenix clash

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Impressive Royal Ascot winner Gstaad has been ruled out of this afternoon’s Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien had warned on Friday that the Coventry Stakes scorer had been “a little bit quiet” after his exercise in the morning but he had hoped it was nothing too serious.

Gstaad was due to clash with fellow Royal Ascot winner and stablemate True Love but news came through on Saturday morning that Gstaad was off his feed.

That means O’Brien now relies on True Love and Puerto Rico.

O’Brien’s son Joseph fields the main danger in Green Sense, winner of the Prix Robert Papin last time out and a late absentee from the Ballyhane Stakes on Monday.

He said: “We’re happy with her off the back of a good run.

“It looks a strong renewal of the race, obviously, if dad’s two turn up.

“We’re hoping for a good run from her, and it would be great if she could get Group One-placed.”

Power Blue has not dodged anyone all season finishing fifth in the Coventry and third in the Railway, so Adrian Murray’s colt faces a tall order in his bid to give the yard a second win in the race in three years.

Murray said: “This looks a tough race for Power Blue, but he’s been running well in all the big races and he’s danced all the dances.

“He’s in great form so we’ll let him take his chance. We’ll see if Aidan runs both his big guns, you never know.

“We won this with Bucanero Fuerte two years ago and he would have the edge at the same stage. Power Blue is a very nice horse, but Bucanero just always had that touch of class, he’s a Group One winner.”

Power Blue is owned by Amo Racing as is the final runner in the field, David Loughnane’s Do Bronxs.

O’Brien: Lake Victoria future not certain

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Aidan O’Brien has revealed his Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria may not run again.

The Frankel filly enjoyed a faultless juvenile campaign, winning each of her five starts including Group One strikes in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the Cheveley Park and at the Breeders’ Cup.

Following an interrupted preparation she could finish only sixth on her return to action in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, and while she bounced back to her best with a brilliant display in the Irish equivalent, she was subsequently ruled out of Royal Ascot and has not yet returned to work.

O’Brien – who is weighing up whether to run Jan Brueghel and/or dual Derby winner Lambourn in the King George at Ascot next weekend – said of Lake Victoria in an interview with ITV Racing: “She is not back in exercise yet. She’s doing very well physically, but she’s not back in work yet.

“John (Halley, vet) will make the decision on whether she comes back into work for this year or is left alone until next year or is retired altogether. They’ll be decisions that will be made as weeks go by.”

The Ballydoyle handler also confirmed his Coral-Eclipse first and fourth Delacroix and Camille Pissarro are both being trained for next month’s Juddmonte International at York, despite bookmaker support prompting speculation the former could drop back to a mile for a clash with Field Of Gold in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes.

Gstaad and Ryan Moore after winning at Royal Ascot
Gstaad and Ryan Moore after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

With the highly touted Albert Einstein “probably not” going to run going to run again this season, O’Brien’s juvenile team for the second half of the season is set to be led by Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who has several Group One options coming up.

O’Brien added: “Gstaad is very well, he’s come out of the Coventry very well. We’re thinking he could be a Heinz (Phoenix Stakes) horse, he could take in Deauville (Prix Morny) and he could take in the National Stakes and he could end up being a Dewhurst horse at the end.”

Albert Einstein return still appears some way off

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Albert Einstein, who missed Royal Ascot with a sprained joint, is still on the sidelines.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien remains hopeful his exciting juvenile will make it back time to run in some of the major end-of-season races in the autumn, although a return to action still appears some way off.

He holds entries in September, including in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

O’Brien said: “He’s not near to running yet, he’s not back cantering yet. He’s just been on a break.

“We’re still hoping he’ll be back for something in the autumn, but it will depend on how he is really.”

Albert Einstein’s reputation has only risen in his absence with O’Brien winning the Queen Mary, Coventry Stakes and the Norfolk yet hailing the Wootton Bassett colt as perhaps the best of his crop.

Following Gstaad’s impressive Coventry win O’Brien said: “Albert Einstein was always something very different and a very quick horse, incredibly quick from the day we worked him.

“Gstaad is a big horse who travels well and with lots of speed. We always thought this was a top-tier horse alongside Albert, but your man was just so fast it was different.”

Gstaad records sizzling Coventry Stakes success

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Gstaad blew the Coventry Stakes field apart to give Aidan O’Brien an 11th win in the Royal Ascot feature.

Sent off the 7-2 favourite and drawn on the near side, his group appeared to be behind for much of the way before Ryan Moore sent him towards the centre of the track with two furlongs to run.

It never really looked in doubt from there and he came home three lengths clear of 80-1 outsider Do Or Do Not on the far side, with Coppull third at 66-1.

O’Brien said: “I’m absolutely delighted and he looks a very good horse, doesn’t he – you don’t win the Coventry like that often and he was visually very good.

“We’ve always loved him and he’s only had the one run, obviously, but has always worked like a good horse. This was the first horse Ryan rode when he came over in January or February time and he was highly thought of then.

“He’s big, he’s scopey and goes with his head down and is very genuine and he looks like he will get further than six. He has all the attributes.

“I’d imagine we would go for a Group One now and the Prix Morny is what they usually do after winning this.”

The long-time favourite for this race was Gstaad’s stablemate Albert Einstein before he suffered a setback earlier this month, ruling him out of the meeting.”

Comparing his winner to the potential star confined to barracks at Ballydoyle, O’Brien added: “Albert Einstein was always something very different and a very quick horse, incredibly quick from the day we worked him.

“Gstaad is a big horse who travels well and with lots of speed. We always thought this was a top-tier horse alongside Albert, but your man was just so fast it was different.”

Of Do Or Do Not, Ed Walker said: “I’m quite surprised, to be honest! The Coventry is not a race I thought I’d be winning anytime soon, but fair play to Simon (Sadler, owner) he felt like rolling the dice.

“I was quite happy to go and find a forty grand novice at Carlisle, but he ran an absolute blinder and I’m really proud of him. He’s a tough horse.”

Gstaad leads Aidan O’Brien’s dual Coventry challenge

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No trainer has won the Coventry Stakes more than Aidan O’Brien and he sends two unbeaten colts for this year’s race in Gstaad and Warsaw.

The Ballydoyle handler has won the premier Royal Ascot juvenile race on 10 occasions and appears to hold an incredibly strong hand yet again.

Gstaad is the choice of Ryan Moore after he triumphed over five furlongs on his debut, beating a stablemate who had finished second in Listed company previously.

“We always though Gstaad was a very nice horse. He obviously won first time when he beat one of our others (True Love) in Navan and we always thought he was a smart colt,” said O’Brien.

“Warsaw ran at Navan and he was one of three (from the stable) because we were just trying to get those who could be possible Ascot horses out and he was obviously on that list.

“He won very nicely there and he obviously hasn’t done much since but he’s in good form. We liked him before he ran and thought he was a possible for Ascot but sometimes when you run them, they are very green and Ascot would come too quick but he wasn’t. You just don’t know until they run, we did always like him.

“Gstaad won nicely and we always thought he was a quality horse and he won’t mind an extra furlong.

“I don’t think it was a hard decision for Ryan.”

Postmodern has the Wathnan Racing team excited at what might be to come.

A son of Too Darn Hot, he was sent to Yarmouth for his one and only run to date and could hardly have been more impressive in victory.

Wathnan also have Underwriter in the field, but retained rider James Doyle has plumped for the Hamad Al Jehani-trained contender.

“I think James is very happy with his decision to ride Postmodern and we’ve been very happy with him since Yarmouth,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“Hamad Al Jehani and his team have done a great job with this colt and he was obviously very impressive that day.

“He’s only run once and it’s a huge ask, but that is what this race is all about and there’s a lot of colts in the same bracket having run once and won well once. We’ll find out how good he is, but he’s certainly a colt we’re all excited about.”

Despite Doyle electing to partner Postmodern, Brown warned the Archie Watson-trained Underwriter (James McDonald) should not be overlooked. Like Postmodern, he is unbeaten after his sole racecourse appearance to date.

“He was very impressive at Ayr and has done everything right since,” continued Brown.

“He’s not to be forgotten, let me tell you, and we’re very lucky we start the week with two big bullets to fire.”

Charlie Appleby’s Military Code has done nothing wrong to date, winning both of his outings, most recently gaining course experience at Ascot when beating Fitzella, who is well fancied for the Albany later in the week.

Appleby told the Godolphin website: “Military Code’s form is rock solid and we are looking forward to stepping him up to six furlongs. He has put up two strong performances to date, including one under a penalty, and should hopefully be very competitive at this level.”