Auguste Rodin, Little Big Bear and Meditate look likely to spearhead Aidan O’Brien’s Classic challenge this term, but leading Qipco 1000 Guineas candidate Statuette is unlikely to feature at Newmarket.
The daughter of Justify won both her juvenile starts last term but has been off the track since landing a Group Two at the Curragh in June.
She had been towards the head of the market for the first fillies’ Classic on May 7, but O’Brien believes she is doubtful to make the line-up.
Speaking at a media morning on Monday, O’Brien said that he ranks his three-year-old colts team highly as he provided an update on his leading lights for this season plus also revealed a handful of youngsters to keep an eye out for.
O'Brien also mentioned that Victoria Road, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, is pencilled in for the French 2000 Guineas and Derby, while Hans Andersen, Denmark, Alfred Munnings, Adelaide River and Alexandroupolis could all have Classic trial dates at some point.
Below is what the Ballydoyle maestro had to say about his powerful squad.
AESOP'S FABLES and THE ANTARCTIC
Both will have sprinting campaigns this season.
AUGUSTE RODIN
We’re very happy with Auguste Rodin. What he did at the Curragh (racecourse gallop on Saturday) was very good, following a three-year-old sprinter. We were very happy with that.
He was very comfortable (working with The Antarctic), we were surprised at him but he was always very classy from the first time Ryan (Moore) rode him.
Little Big Bear is very classy, and I suppose the difference in the two is Auguste Rodin could stretch right out and looking at him at the Curragh, he’s not short of pace. The other horse you would imagine would get a mile.
I think they are (Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear - the main two for Newmarket), then the lads will have to decide whether to let the two of them run together or split them up. They are the two that will be trained for Newmarket, that makes sense.
You’d imagine Auguste Rodin will go better stretching out to a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. He’s that type of horse (that could get any trip in time). If we have a horse that could do that, he’s definitely the one.
We nearly didn’t run him at Doncaster on the ground. He’s an exceptional mover, a very slick, long and low mover. He’s the type of horse that could start in the Guineas and stretch out.
BEGINNINGS
Beginnings could go to a Guineas trial next weekend if it was nice ground, she’s fit and forward. We have had fillies from that Leopardstown trial win the Guineas, so they can step up.
BROOME
I’m not sure whether Broome will stretch out that far (two and a half miles at Ascot), but you’d imagine he’ll be very happy at Goodwood, Irish Leger, the Melbourne Cup, those type of races.
EMILY DICKINSON
Emily Dickinson, Broome, Changingoftheguard are possibles (for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot) – even though we probably won’t make a decision (yet).
We were very impressed with Emily at the Curragh, she grew another leg when she went to two miles.
ESPIONAGE
He was in full work and then he got a little bit of a shoulder and he’s only swimming, so he’s going to be held up for a little bit.
KYPRIOS
I don’t think Kyprios is going to make the Gold Cup. He got a little bit of a joint and it’s not settling down. We will just have to wait and see. It’s one of those things.
It happened a month ago and it’s just not settled – sometimes these things can settle very quickly and sometimes they don’t. He got an inner infection inside in the joint and it had to be flushed and then there was more infection, so it had to be flushed a second time.
LITTLE BIG BEAR
Little Big Bear in action at the Curragh on Saturday
I suppose Little Big Bear would be very comfortable and happy to go back sprinting, but I think there’s a good chance he will get a mile. He races very relaxed. (Plus see comments on Auguste Rodin)
MEDITATE
Meditate at Ballydoyle on Monday
Meditate is the one, she’s going there (Newmarket for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas). She did a gentle piece at the Curragh, because she was at Tipperary a month before that and she was a little bit ouchy afterwards, so we had to be gentle with her.
She still got to the Curragh to do her bit and she’ll do her first trot this morning, so hopefully she’s OK.
The plan is to go straight to Newmarket with her. She’s a very professional filly, she’s not over big but she’s strong. We were very happy with her on Saturday (during her racecourse gallop).
STATUETTE
Statuette has had a little bit of a hold up and I don’t think she’s going to make the Guineas. We will just go gentle and see what happens.
TENEBRISM
Tenebrism is going to go sprinting. She’ll probably start in one of the local sprints, she’s nearly ready to go, she was at the Curragh (on Saturday) and worked well.
She’s a fast filly, I’d say five or six she’d be comfortable at. We’re thinking both with her, the five and the six – we thought she could do the two (at Ascot). We were dallying around her last year, seeing where we were going to go and but the minute we started sprinting, it was very obvious she was a sprinter.
She’ll be trained differently, last year we were trying to stretch her out and she was still being very competitive at those distances, she’s just a good filly.
👀 HORSES TO FOLLOW
Alabama is one to watch, Battle Cry is another No Nay Never, Emperor Of Rome, a Ten Sovereigns filly called Brighter, I think they’re the more forward types. You’ll not go far wrong with Alabama, who is a brother to Sioux Nation.
The Liffey is another one, His Majesty is another No Nay Never, Carnegie Hall, they’re some of the early-type ones.