Tag Archive for: Wemightakedlongway

Smart targets in the pipeline for Wemightakedlongway

/in /by

Joseph O’Brien is looking forward to further top-level events in the autumn after proudly watching Wemightakedlongway finish second to his father’s Minnie Hauk in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks.

The daughter of Australia was fourth to Minnie Hauk in the Epsom equivalent in June before not being disgraced when dropping back to 10 furlongs and filling the same spot in the Curragh’s Pretty Polly Stakes next time.

She justified her position as chief market danger to Minnie Hauk when closing the gap on the dual Classic winner in her second taste of Classic action and after her brave performance in defeat, Wemightakedlongway’s trainer is now lining up some exciting options for later in the season.

Wemightakedlongway pushed Minnie Hauk all the way at the Curragh
Wemightakedlongway pushed Minnie Hauk all the way at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

“I was very proud of her run and there is no shame getting beat a length by Minnie Hauk,” said O’Brien.

“We can look at some nice fillies races with her in the autumn now and there’s a good chance she might turn up in something like the Prix Vermeille or Prix de l’Opera.”

O’Brien may have had to settle for second with Wemightakedlongway, but was thrilled to see Al Riffa – who is now somewhat a stable stalwart – excel in his first try at a mile and six.

A dual Group One winner, he built on his fine Royal Ascot second to Rebel’s Romance to romp to an impressive five-length success in the Curragh Cup and the Owning Hill handler has earmarked the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger over the same track and trip as the perfect spot to seek further top honours.

Al Riffa has long been a star performer for Joseph O'Brien
Al Riffa has long been a star performer for Joseph O’Brien (Niall Carson/PA)

“He’s a great horse who put up a real good showing in the Curragh Cup over a new distance for him,” added O’Brien.

“He seemed to cope with the trip well and the Irish St Leger is an obvious target for him now, but we have the option of popping back to Germany or something between now and then, so we’ll see how he pulls up and make a plan from there.

“He was second in the Eclipse last year and has a high level of form at a mile and a half and now he can go a mile and six as well it just opens up more options. Really, trying to win another Group One and earn some good prize-money will be our objective before the end of the year.”

O’Brien eager to take on Hauk again with Wemightakedlongway

/in /by

Joseph O’Brien is keen to let Wemightakedlongway have another crack at red-hot Juddmonte Irish Oaks favourite Minnie Hauk at the Curragh on Saturday.

The pair met in a Cork maiden last October when Wemightakedlongway showed the benefit of her previous experience, beating Minnie Hauk on her debut by two and a half lengths.

Since then Wemightakedlongway has won one of her four outings, the Group Three Salsabil Stakes at Navan, while Minnie Hauk has so far emerged as the best of her generation, winning at Chester and following up in determined fashion in the Oaks at Epsom from stablemate Whirl.

The form of that race looks strong as Whirl has since beaten Kalpana in the Pretty Polly, a race in which Wemightakedlongway finished fourth.

“We are looking forward to running Wemightakedlongway,” the Piltown-based trainer said.

“There is some rain forecast and any rain that falls we think might help her chances in Saturday’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks.”

Minnie Hauk’s trainer Aidan O’Brien also runs Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily, while the field is completed by Fozzy Stack’s Bay Colony and Johnny Murtagh’s Subsonic.