Aidan O'Brien says Delacroix 'on York programme' not Glorious Goodwood path
Aidan O'Brien insists Delacroix remains on course for next month's Juddmonte International - despite a wholesale gamble on the Coral-Eclipse Stakes hero for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The beaten Derby favourite, who redeemed his reputation with a neck defeat of Ombudsman over a mile and a quarter at Sandown Park 12 days ago, was available at 16-1 on Wednesday for the Visit Qatar-sponsored Group 1 test. Market support down to 5-1 triggered speculation Delacroix would step back to a mile for a clash with Sussex Stakes hotpot Field Of Gold, an imperious winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes on his last two starts.
William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: 'We're less than two weeks away from the Sussex Stakes, and the much-anticipated clash between Field Of Gold and Delacroix could be coming sooner than we thought.
'The Juddmonte had seemed their potential first head-to-head, but we've taken notable money for Aidan O'Brien's Eclipse hero to see him more than halve in price for the Sussex.
'He's now a 5-1 shot from 16s, and while he still has a way to go to get to Field Of Gold at 4-7 favourite, his price collapse could suggest that Ballydoyle are seriously considering dropping him back to the mile.
"We'd still expect Field Of Gold to be very hard to beat over this course and distance, but their meeting would be a tantalising prospect for racing fans.'
But O'Brien stressed the Knavesmire on August 20 - he is set to be joined in the York line-up by Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) victor and Eclipse fourth Camille Pissarro - is still next on the Dubawi colt's to-do list,
Ballydoyle's Henri Matisse, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) at Longchamp before a second to Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot, will seek revenge on his John and Thady Gosden-trained rival on the South Downs in 12 days' time.
'The plan for Delacroix and Camille Pissarro is that they are both on the York programme,' O'Brien reported on Thursday. 'Henri Matisse will go for the Sussex.'
O'Brien's Minnie Hauk is William Hill's 2-9 favourite to add Saturday's Irish Oaks to her triumph in the Epsom original after a total of seven rivals were declared for the Curragh Classic yesterday.
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