Last year’s St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov will bid to add the Irish equivalent to his CV when he heads to the Curragh on day two of the Irish Champions Festival.
It promises to be a big weekend for Roger Varian, who is poised to saddle crack middle-distance colt King Of Steel in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 9, while 24 hours later his star stayer will attempt to get back to winning ways and register his first success since his Doncaster Classic triumph 12 months ago in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.
The son of Dubawi was due to run at the Curragh in the Group Three Leger trial there earlier this month, but got worked up in the early stages of the journey to Ireland and was subsequently declared a non-runner.
Connections will now be hoping for a smoother trip when Eldar Eldarov heads to the Kildare track for his intended outing on September 10.
“He wasn’t travelling very well and we don’t know why because he’s never had that problem before,” explained Chris Wall, racing manager for owners KHK Racing Ltd.
“He got upset travelling and they thought rather than carry on to Ireland they would bring him home. I think they had got into north Wales just beyond Chester.
“The worry was if you put him on the ferry and it deteriorated into something like colic then you are in the middle of the sea and you can’t do anything about it. He just got his knickers in a twist about something so they brought him home.
“The target for him is to go to the Irish St Leger and that is very much still on the cards at the moment. He’s grand and it’s all systems go for that.”
Wall also revealed that the KHK Racing-owned Sakheer is unlikely to take up his engagement in Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup on September 9, but hopes to see the Zoffany colt back in action at Ascot in the Qipco British Champions Sprint on October 21.
Also trained by Varian, last year’s Mill Reef winner was not disgraced in the 2000 Guineas earlier this year, but having failed to truly stay the mile has been off the track since his first run back over sprinting distances in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
“He’s had a few niggly things after Ascot, but he’s back in work and we’re hoping to run him in something this autumn,” said Wall.
“I don’t think he’ll be ready for the Haydock race, that’s not far away now so he won’t make that. But we hope we might have him back for a run perhaps in the Champions Sprint and we’ll go from there.
“It’s been one of those years really where things haven’t quite gone his way, but we hope we can get him back on track and if not we’ll have to hope things go right for him next year instead.
“It’s a tough year at three and if you miss your slots early, which he did, then you haven’t much else and any obvious route back into things. It’s tough, but we haven’t given up on him yet.”
In form Barbadian jockey Antonio Whitehall piloted his 50th career stakes win in Canada when he landed Saturday night’s Speed to Spare Championship Stakes with the 3-1 bet Great Escape at Century Mile in Edmonton.
Held off the early pace, the four-year-old gelding, Great Escape, came flying down the homestretch with Whitehall and won by a length and three-quarters over the 45-1 outsider Itsmyday, ridden by Trinidad and Tobago’s reigning champion jockey Brian Boodramsing.
The 29-year-old Whitehall was not originally listed for the ride but grabbed the opportunity when Toronto-based Barbadian Rico Walcott could not fulfill the engagement.
“I wasn’t booked to ride, the horse became available and I made it count,” Whitehall told SportsMax.
Great Escape, who won the 2022 Canadian Derby at Century Mile with Walcott aboard, edged closer to the lead coming off the final bend and went in chase of backstretch leader Glava, the 7-1 bet with Jamaican jockey Dane Nelson aboard.
Whitehall, who is based at Winnipeg’s Assiniboia Downs where he is currently the number-one rider, grabbed the lead with Great Escape approaching the eighth pole won over Itsmyday, who came from a long way off the pace for the runner-up spot. Glava held on for third. Great Escape clocked 2:04.00 for the 10-furlong Speed to Spare Championship win.
With less than a month remaining in the Assiniboia Downs season, Whitehall is poised for a third championship win at the Winnipeg racetrack, boasting 41 wins, 13 ahead of fellow Barbadian Damario Bynoe (29) with Mexican Jorge Carreno, the defending champion, lying third on 28 wins. Whitehall was Assiniboia Downs champion in 2018 and 2020.
In a historic and heartwarming gesture, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) announced today, Monday, August 28, that they will be rewarding the stellar achievements of Jamaica's netball players with JMD$1 million each (about USD$6000) for their triumphant performance at the Netball World Cup, where they clinched the bronze medal.
The JOA's rewarding initiative encompasses a comprehensive approach, aiming to not only honor the team's success but also contribute to their future financial stability. Each player from the bronze medal-winning team will receive JMD$1 million from a joint reward from Supreme Ventures Limited and Mayberry Investments.
The JMD$13 million in rewards will go towards funding investment accounts at Mayberry Investments for each medallist. The funds will be under management at Mayberry Investments for a period of three years or until the athlete's retirement from netball, whichever comes earlier.
The announcement, made at the JOA headquarters on Cunningham Avenue in Kingston on Monday, August 28, marks a momentous occasion as the JOA has never before rewarded a team and their coach for their exceptional performances. Following the Tokyo Olympics, the JOA had rewarded the track and field athletes a total of JMD$45 million.
This unprecedented decision is a testament to the remarkable journey and victories of the Jamaican netball team. Over the years, they have showcased their prowess, securing victories like the CAC gold, which ultimately culminated in their monumental success at the Netball World Cup.
Ryan Foster, General Secretary of the JOA, expressed the significance of this moment and the association's pride in the team's accomplishments:
"Today, the Jamaica Olympic Association celebrates and acknowledges your achievements on the court but we also want to reward them. We have watched with pride over the years of the success and progress made by our Sunshine Girls and are elated that we have been a part of that journey along with our partners SVL and Mayberry."
Foster recounted the dedication of the team and the vital role that the JOA, along with its partners, played in supporting the sport's resurgence after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic:
"I remember when President (Tricia) Robinson came to us seeking ways to restart the sport after COVID and the most important goal was to get the Elite League and the National League going, and the JOA along with SVL and Marathon have invested over JMD$9 million in the restart of the Netball leagues."
Highlighting the team's historic accomplishments, Mr. Foster emphasized that the bronze medal at the World Cup was the perfect culmination of their remarkable journey:
"Following upon the Commonwealth Games, Caribbean Games, and CAC, all historic performances, it was only fitting that the icing on the cake was the World Cup. The JOA and our partners salutes you and your contribution to Jamaican pride, sports prowess, and generally being great ambassadors of not only yourselves but also of the JOA and our partners."
Acknowledging the pivotal role of Coach Connie Francis, Mr. Foster announced a reward of JMD$2 million for her extraordinary leadership.
"For the signal work done by Coach Connie Francis, the JOA will reward the coach extraordinaire with an amount of $2 million," Foster said.
Recognizing the strength of their netball family, the JOA extended a helping hand to Latanya, contributing $1M towards her recovery. Wilson recently lost her home and all her personal belongings including her trophies and medals when arsonists set her home on fire.
"It is in times of distress and crisis that we see the heart of our family, and Latanya, you are family. With that said, the JOA will contribute JMD$1 million towards your road to recovery."
As the JOA, SVL, and Mayberry unite to celebrate the achievements of the Sunshine Girls, Foster assured that the journey is far from over, with the promise of continuous collaboration and support.
"Life is what you make it. Journeys are made to be explored and memories last a lifetime. Your memorable accomplishments have warmed our hearts, and similarly, when you were to restart the sport, we will continue the journey hand in hand, a marriage that won’t be broken."
Foster extended gratitude to SVL and Mayberry for their partnership and dedication to the athletes' success, foreshadowing further exciting announcements as the journey towards the Olympic year continues.
Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. landed his third career US$1 million win in North American thoroughbred racing when his four-year-old colt Skippylongstocking captured the Charles Town Classic at Charles Town racetrack in West Virginia last Friday evening.
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Skippylongstocking dominated from the start and won comfortably by five lengths as the 7-5 favourite. The 10-1 bet, O’Connor, also trained by the 36-year-old Joseph, ran on late to get second, giving Florida’s number-one trainer a 1-2 finish in the Classic, the richest on Friday’s 13-race card that had nine stakes races.
In 18 previous starts, Skippylongstocking never led his field but he broke smartly for a clear lead at the first turn, and with the projected pacesetter Giant Game well off the pace, Gaffalione went with the flow setting the early fractions, coasting through a half-mile in 48.88 seconds and six furlongs in 1:14.17.
“I was surprised to see him on the lead (but) then the fractions were reasonable enough,” said Florida-based Joseph who had previous US$1 million stakes wins with Math Wizard in the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby and White Abarrio in last year’s Florida Derby.
When Gaffalione roused the colt at the quarter pole, the two-time 2022 Triple Crown entrant Skippylongstocking opened up and galloped home a big winner. Last year’s Belmont Stakes third-placer who was fifth in the Preakness, was timed in 1:51.37 for 1 1/8 miles.
This was the colt’s second major win in West Virginia following his West Virginia Derby victory at Mountaineer Park last summer.
Joseph currently has 899 career wins in North America including 76 stakes victories, eight this year. He completed this past weekend a remarkable seventh consecutive trainers’ title win at Florida’s Gulfstream Park, completing the Spring/Summer meet with a colony-leading 66 wins, 11 ahead of nearest rival Jose D’Angelo (55).
Prix du Jockey Club hero Ace Impact is set to head straight to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe following his recent victory at Deauville.
The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained son of Cracksman emphatically scooped Classic honours at Chantilly and took his record to a perfect five out of five when returning from a short break to down Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa on the Normandy coast.
That cosy victory gave Rouget back-to-back triumphs in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and he looks to have found the perfect candidate to bid for his second victory in Europe’s richest middle-distance contest, a race for which Ace Impact is the general 7-2 favourite.
Rouget sent Sottsass to the Prix Niel before finishing third in the Arc in 2019, while the Irish Champion Stakes was used to set him up for his big-race triumph in the French capital 12 months later.
Rouget also used the Leopardstown Group One to prepare French Derby champion Vadeni for Arc duty last season, with the Aga Khan’s colt finishing third in Dublin before taking the runner-up spot behind Alpinista in the Bois de Boulogne.
However, October 1 has long been circled on the calendar of connections and they are happy that Ace Impact will be seen next in ParisLongchamp in perfect order as they continue to dream of Arc glory.
“We are very pleased with him since his run in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano,” said Pauline Chehboub, racing manager for her family’s Gousserie Racing operation, who purchased 50 per cent of the colt from Serge Stempniak after the Prix du Jockey Club.
“He is a very unique horse and every time he comes to the races it feels like he loves it. We are very fortunate to be a part of this champion.
“His target since the French Derby, like Jean-Claude Rouget announced, is the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so we follow the plan.
“He is the Arc favourite, unbeaten and his limits are unknown. The dream continues.”
Tony Martin’s runners are always feared when making trips to England and his Belgoprince produced a devastating display in Epsom’s Betfred Nifty Fifty Amateurs’ Derby Handicap to enhance that reputation as jockey Billy Coonan enjoyed his biggest day in the saddle.
It was not a shock that one of the visitors from Ireland took home the prestigious first prize, but many expected the winner to be the John and Thomas Kiely-trained Liberated Light who was sent off the 11-4 favourite in the hands Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey John Gleeson.
However, despite travelling with supreme confidence into the home straight, Gleeson and his mount had no answer to Belgoprince who forced his way to the front in the hands of 19-year-old Coonan at the two-furlong pole and then surged clear to register an emphatic 11-length success over his fellow Irish raider at odds of 12-1.
Coonan said: “It is surreal. I came over from Ireland this morning. Tony rang me on Saturday morning saying ‘I’ve got a ride for you’. It is just great. We thought we had a bit of a chance, but I didn’t think it would be that easy.
“I wanted to get the rail, but I was one off the rail. Hitting the two (furlong pole) he was travelling so well I went to the lead. He just hit the front running so I let him go and he got the job done.
“It is massive. I’ve only ever had one winner before, so it is extra special to get one here. It means a lot.”
While Coonan’s impending university studies will take over from his duties in the saddle, he will try to keep his hand in with his riding.
Coonan added: “I had my first ride last year at the Galway Festival and I’ve been in with Tony Martin most days of the week. I’m just delighted just to get a winner for him.
“I live over in Maynooth in County Kildare and I’m going to university in September. I’m going to study commerce at the University of Galway so it will be back to the books, but I will try to ride at the same time.”
Adam West is mulling over his options for shock Nunthorpe winner Live In The Dream, with both ParisLongchamp and Keeneland possible stopping points en route to the Breeders’ Cup.
The flying four-year-old booked his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint when scorching up the Knavesmire to scoop Group One glory on his first appearance in that grade.
And with connections also getting their first top-level success, they are now dreaming of reliving that fantastic afternoon in York at Santa Anita on November 4.
Epsom-based West is looking at the best path to America later in the season with Steve and Jolene De’Lemos’ pride and joy, who has reportedly bounced out of his trip to York.
“He’s come out of the race really well and if there was another race for him next week I would be considering it,” said West.
“He really enjoyed it and thrived off all the attention. They 100 per cent know when they have done well and he probably had his head down a little after Deauville. But he thrived off it and all the attention he got and even with the long journey home the next day he had his ears pricked and was soaking it all in more than me probably.”
With options limited close to home, West may have to head overseas for Live In The Dream’s Breeders’ Cup tune-up.
The gelding holds an entry for the Prix de l’Abbaye on October 1 while an early venture to America for the $350,000 Woodford Stakes – which has been won by Golden Pal in the past two seasons – are both on the radar despite presenting their respective pros and cons.
“We would only consider the Abbaye if we had an unusually dry September,” explained West.
“I would consider good to soft with him. The problem isn’t so much ground, he’s versatile in terms of ground – it’s more keeping his confidence high along with his physical fitness.
“The Abbaye is OK time-wise to see him into the Breeders’ Cup well so it would be a case of going there to bring him on back to his fighting weight. But you have to balance that with not knocking his confidence and not running him on anything that is likely to cause a strain or stress a muscle or anything.”
He added: “There is a very loose option to go to Keeneland for a five-and-a-half-furlong race which is a big race there. But again it is a case of trying to balance the finances of what’s appropriate and what the Breeders’ Cup are willing to put forward to get him over there.
“That would be almost better for him as it is October and it would bring him in bang on three weeks before the Turf Sprint, but you then have to get him out there yourself and everything.
“Over here there is nothing really and other than those two races it would be looking at some of the tracks over here to help him out and get him there for a gallop before he goes over (to America).”
West is still on a high after York and has already been studying previous Breeders’ Cup footage as he dreams of adding Live In The Dream’s name to the meeting’s illustrious roll of honour.
“It still hasn’t sunk in really,” he added.
“Epsom asked if the horse could parade (at the Bank Holiday Monday meeting), but I think it would have blown his head a little bit so they had to make do with me.
“It’s left me thinking kind of ‘what do we do now’, and wondering how do we ever get that feeling ever again.
“I’ve rewatched some of the previous Breeders’ Cup races over the last few days including the 2019 one that holds the record and I just thought if we could emulate anything near that it would be amazing. It’s so exciting to watch, even now knowing the results. It’s the best of the best isn’t it and we’re going to be a part of it.
“Everyone has been so welcoming and it has really captured the hearts of people over here. I think the Americans have got behind it a little bit and he looks the type to do well over there so there is a lot of excitement from their side as well as ours.”
Sure to be front and centre when Live In The Dream does showcase his speed oversees is the horse’s adoring and enthusiastic owners, and West cannot speak highly enough of the the De’Lemos family, who have been huge supporters of his fledgling Epsom set-up.
“They love it and they are on cloud nine,” West said.
“They are such a great family and great warm characters. It would be hard to find somewhere that wouldn’t be welcoming of them as you only need to spend a minute with them to pick up on the love they have for each other and for the sport.”
Task Force maintained his unbeaten record with a clear-cut victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy.
A son of two Guineas winners in Frankel and Special Duty, the Ralph Beckett-trained colt made a big impression on his racecourse debut at Salisbury last month, earning him a step up to Listed class.
He was the 11-8 favourite to dispatch of five rivals in North Yorkshire and did so in fine style in the hands of Rossa Ryan.
In the famous Juddmonte silks, Task Force raced enthusiastically at the rear of the field for much of the six-furlong contest before being produced with his challenge widest of all.
He mastered Shagraan and course and distance winner Seven Questions, who was briefly stopped in his run when challenging between the pair, and was good value for the winning margin of a length and a quarter.
The winner’s stablemate Matters Most finished strongly to fill the runner-up spot and provide the in-form Beckett team with a one-two.
Juddmonte’s racing manager, Barry Mahon, said of the winner: “The idea of going to Ripon was to teach him a bit as he didn’t learn much the first day, he hit the gates well and sat handy and was left in front a furlong and a half down, so he probably didn’t learn a lot about racing.
“He’ll have learned plenty there today. You saw how green he was in the early part of there and when Rossa asked him to go he was green, but when the penny dropped away he went.
“It was a nice performance and he could a nice horse.”
Task Force has the option of stepping up to seven furlongs for the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next month, but plans are fluid at this stage.
“I haven’t spoken to Ralph yet and we need to let the dust settle, but I’ve no doubt seven is going to be right up his street,” Mahon added.
“He’s bred to be a miler in time, so seven furlongs won’t be a problem, but whether Ralph decides to go that way now or later on we’ll wait and see.
“Part of the reason we went back over six furlongs today was because when you look up his mother’s record she never raced beyond six at two and ended up being a dual Guineas winner at three, so there’s no shortage of speed in the pedigree and he showed that today against some hardened two-year-olds.”
Task Force maintained his unbeaten record with a clear-cut victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy.
A son of two Guineas winners in Frankel and Special Duty, the Ralph Beckett-trained colt made a big impression on his racecourse debut at Salisbury last month, earning him a step up to Listed class.
He was the 11-8 favourite to dispatch of five rivals in North Yorkshire and did so in fine style in the hands of Rossa Ryan.
In the famous Juddmonte silks, Task Force raced enthusiastically at the rear of the field for much of the six-furlong contest before being produced with his challenge widest of all.
He mastered Shagraan and course and distance winner Seven Questions, who was briefly stopped in his run when challenging between the pair, and was good value for the winning margin of a length and a quarter.
The winner’s stablemate Matters Most finished strongly to fill the runner-up spot and provide the in-form Beckett team with a one-two.
Juddmonte’s racing manager, Barry Mahon, said of the winner: “The idea of going to Ripon was to teach him a bit as he didn’t learn much the first day, he hit the gates well and sat handy and was left in front a furlong and a half down, so he probably didn’t learn a lot about racing.
“He’ll have learned plenty there today. You saw how green he was in the early part of there and when Rossa asked him to go he was green, but when the penny dropped away he went.
“It was a nice performance and he could a nice horse.”
Task Force has the option of stepping up to seven furlongs for the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next month, but plans are fluid at this stage.
“I haven’t spoken to Ralph yet and we need to let the dust settle, but I’ve no doubt seven is going to be right up his street,” Mahon added.
“He’s bred to be a miler in time, so seven furlongs won’t be a problem, but whether Ralph decides to go that way now or later on we’ll wait and see.
“Part of the reason we went back over six furlongs today was because when you look up his mother’s record she never raced beyond six at two and ended up being a dual Guineas winner at three, so there’s no shortage of speed in the pedigree and he showed that today against some hardened two-year-olds.”
Julie Camacho’s super sprinter Shaquille has been doing his stalls homework ahead of his run in Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup.
The three-year-old has been an unstoppable force this season, winning a Newmarket handicap before stepping into Listed company to take the Carnarvon Stakes by two lengths – both times under James Doyle.
Doyle’s duties with Godolphin prevented him from taking the ride on the colt in the Commonwealth Cup and his loss was Oisin Murphy’s gain as he prevailed at Group One level by a length and a quarter.
The same situation arose in the July Cup at Newmarket, where Rossa Ryan got the leg-up as Shaquille gained another top-flight success for the Camacho team. On both of his most recent runs, however, the bay left himself with ground to make up when rearing in the stalls and missing the break.
As a result Camacho and her husband and assistant Steve Brown have turned to Craig Witherford, a specialist horseman who helps with tricky loaders. Doyle was on board for the schooling and remains first choice for Haydock, if his Godolphin commitments leave him available.
“He is in good form, everything’s going to plan for a week on Saturday at Haydock,” said Brown.
“He had a little rest after the July Cup, which was always our intention, he’s done two bits of work to his normal standard – he’s not a flashy worker at home.
“I had a chat with Craig after Newmarket because we thought Ascot was a one-off, but then it wasn’t, so we needed to do something to try to make him jump out more convincingly.
“He was loaded with a rug and before he jumped out the rug was taken off, it certainly worked on Thursday.
“He jumped out and looked pretty convincing, hopefully that will be the case when he goes to Haydock.
“It all about your use of energy, it’d be nice if he could get out smoothly and we’d really see what he can do then.”
He added on the jockey situation: “James has always been our first choice since the start of the year, we haven’t discussed it fully but I think he’d be our first port of call – we’ll see what his availability is and go from there.”
Future plans are on hold for Nostrum after the exciting colt finished lame when hot favourite for the Strensall Stakes at York on Saturday.
Third behind fellow Juddmonte-owned three-year-old Chaldean in the Dewhurst at Newmarket last term, the son of Kingman missed the first part of the current campaign after suffering a setback in the spring.
A spectacular comeback win in a Listed race at Newmarket last month suggested Sir Michael Stoute’s inmate was destined for the top, but he was beaten by Epictetus in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood and trailed home last of six runners in another Group Three on the Knavesmire on Saturday.
Whether Nostrum runs again this season remains to be seen, with connections still trying to discover the exact cause of his disappointing performance.
“He was lame behind on the day and it will be investigated a bit more today and tomorrow,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon on Monday.
“I don’t think it’s anything too sinister from what Sir Michael was saying, he thought it might have been more muscular than anything, but until we check it out we’ll wait and see.
“We won’t know what the plan is until we get all the results back and see what was causing the niggle.
“It was disappointing, but it would be worse if there was no reason for it. The main thing is getting him right as we know the talent is there and the ability is there, it’s just about getting him right.”
A Juddmonte runner who produced a more positive performance at York was Bluestocking, who was beaten just three and a half lengths into fourth place in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks.
Ralph Beckett’s filly has previously finished third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot before being narrowly denied by Savethelastdance in the Irish Oaks, and her team must now decide whether to lower her sights or line up in another Group One contest on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot.
Mahon added: “I thought she ran a lovely race and she’s a filly that’s probably still a little bit on the weak side when you watch her going round the ring compared to some of the opposition.
“I thought it was noticeable that there’s still a little bit of weakness in her and I think she’s filly that will be better next year, but she’s running to a high level of form.
“A little bit more ease in the ground probably suits her a little better and I’m sure there’ll be good days to be had with her along the way.
“We haven’t really decided where we go next, we need to discuss that with the owners. We touched on it after the race whether we drop in class and win a race this year or she goes to the fillies’ race on Ascot on Champions Day.
“We’ll let her get over York and speak with the owners and then decide in the coming weeks.”
Mahon also provided an update on 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean, who has enjoyed a mid-season break since failing to fire in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in early July.
The Andrew Balding-trained son of Frankel is being readied for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, with a prep run at Newmarket in the pipeline.
“I think Andrew in the back of his head is slightly thinking of the Joel Stakes,” said Mahon.
“He’s back in Kingsclere and cantering away and we sort of said we’d just monitor and see how he goes closer to the time, but Andrew was thinking Joel Stakes and then the QEII.”
Aidan O’Brien is making plans for his exciting crop of juveniles, with City Of Troy set to be his chief contender in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on day two of the Irish Champions Festival.
Unbeaten in his two starts to date, he made his debut in a Curragh maiden at the beginning of July, before putting in a brilliant display to land Group Two honours in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.
“He is going to the National Stakes at the moment. If he didn’t then Henry Longfellow would go there, but we had it in our heads that Henry would go to the Dewhurst and City Of Troy would go to the National Stakes. I’m very happy with both horses,” said O’Brien.
With City Of Troy – the general 2-1 favourite for the Qipco 2000 Guineas – being a son of American Triple Crown hero Justify, O’Brien is not ruling out the possibility of a switch to the dirt at the Breeders’ Cup later in the year.
He said: “To go to America you need a good horse running at a very high level and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that City Of Troy could go.
“We’ll see what happens in the National Stakes, but if he was going there is a chance that he could come back to six furlongs for the Middle Park to sharpen him up for America.
“There is a chance he could run on the dirt in America, but we’ll see.”
With City Of Troy heading for the National Stakes and Henry Longfellow – also unbeaten in two starts and a Group Two scorer via the Futurity Stakes – seemingly bound for the Dewhurst, River Tiber looks set to contest the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Wootton Bassett colt lost his unbeaten record when third in the Prix Morny at Deauville earlier this month following an interrupted preparation.
“I was afraid that the Prix Morny could go very wrong because he was lame for 10 days. He came back sound, but the muscles can get tired and I was afraid that might happen,” said O’Brien.
“That is why Ryan (Moore) let him find himself in the first half of the race, but he said it was flying home and it was a very big run.
“The plan would be to go to the Middle Park, because there’s horses for those other races. Ryan said he will stay seven furlongs, but that’s what we’re thinking at the moment.”
The Ballydoyle handler confirmed unbeaten filly Ylang Ylang as his main hope Moyglare Stud Stakes, having been kept fresh since landing the Silver Flash at Leopardstown in late July.
He said: “Ylang Ylang goes to the Moyglare. We could have given her another run and tightened her up, but we felt this was the best thing for her.
“She always worked very well. The last day she probably wasn’t as impressive, but we think she’ll be better when she gets a lead.”
Trinbago Knight Riders earned their first victory of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a six-wicket win over St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at Warner Park, St. Kitts on Sunday night.
Trinbago Knight Riders won the toss and chose to field first and a bowling masterclass from Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine caused early inroads. However, a brilliant 66-run partnership between stand-in captain Sherfane Rutherford and Corbin Bosch managed to take the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots to 178-5.
The Knight Riders lost early wickets in their chase, but Nicholas Pooran produced a sensational innings of 61 to help guide his side to their first win of this campaign.
Patriots openers Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis got their side off to a quick start in front of a cheering home crowd, scoring 43 runs in the first four overs before Dwayne Bravo, playing in his 100th CPL game, took both of their wickets in the space of three balls.
Sunil Narine would then take the wickets of Joshua da Silva and Jyd Goolie to leave the Patriots struggling. Rutherford scored a half century, and supported by Corbin Bosch, he took the Patriots to a substantial score of 178-5.
Also, for the first time in Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League history a red card was brandished as the Trinbago Knight Riders incurred three over-rate penalties, meaning, as per regulations introduced this season, they had to play the final over with just 10 players on the field.
Sunil Narine was the player who was withdrawn from the field of play.
Trinbago Knight Riders lost the early wickets of Chadwick Walton and Martin Guptill in their chase, however Nicholas Pooran would play some sublime shots to help take his side to 50-2 at the end of the Powerplay.
Pooran continued to score boundaries after the Powerplay but was eventually caught out for 61 from 32 balls off a Corbin Bosch delivery. The 14th over would prove to be pivotal as Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard would slam four sixes to put his side firmly in control, and he would eventually win the game with a final six off a Dominics Drake delivery in the 17th over.
The action now shifts to Barbados as the next round of league games start at Kensington Oval on Wednesday evening.
Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 180-4 (Pooran 61, Pollard 37; Bosch 3-22, Muzarabani 1-30) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 178-5 (Rutherford 62, Fletcher 32; Narine 3-24, Bravo 2-43) by six wickets.
Aidan O’Brien is planning to run both last year’s winner Luxembourg and Auguste Rodin in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week.
Luxembourg got the better of French-trained duo Onesto and Vadeni in the showpiece event of the Irish Champions Festival last season and has added the Tattersalls Gold Cup to his top-level CV this term.
His last two runs have come at Ascot as he finished second to subsequent Juddmonte International hero Mostahdaf in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes before placing fourth in the King George, a race in which his dual Derby-winning stablemate Auguste Rodin proved a bitter disappointment.
O’Brien has found no obvious reason for that listless display, but is hopeful he can bounce back at Leopardstown on September 9.
“We’re very happy with Luxembourg, everything has gone very well. The King George is a tough race and he was on the pace,” said the Ballydoyle handler.
“The plan is at the moment both he and Auguste Rodin are going to Leopardstown. Really we don’t know what happened to Auguste in the King George. He was drawn very wide and trapped very wide and he came off the bridle a lot earlier than Ryan (Moore) would have thought.
“His first impulse was to protect the horse and he was very surprised what happened. Before he had to ask too much he just pulled him up and that’s the reality of the situation.
“It’s probably a blessing in disguise as if he came off the bridle at the stage he was probably going to get a very tough race. For a baby three-year-old he was probably lucky he didn’t get into a brawl and he came home very well.”
O’Brien hinted that whatever the result at Leopardstown Auguste Rodin, a son of Japanese sire Deep Impact, is unlikely to remain in training as a four-year-old.
“He’s such a unique horse pedigree-wise he’s kind of irreplaceable really,” he said.
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