O'Brien keeping the faith with Storm Boy
Aidan O'Brien was not discouraged by Storm Boy's beaten effort on his Irish debut in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
The Justify three-year-old was formerly campaigned in Australia by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and was a multiple Group-race winner under that jurisdiction.
Having been shipped to the other side of the world he made his debut for O'Brien at Group Two level, but did not live up to his billing as the 6-4 favourite when coming home last of nine runners.
His trainer was not overly deflated, however, and is glad to have completed a valuable fact-finding mission before Royal Ascot.
'He had never been galloped or worked, but we had to run him to find out what else we had to work on between now and Ascot,' he said.
'We learned that we have a good bit to work on, but I was very happy to do that.
'He was beaten less than six lengths and he got a bad enough check at the two (furlong) marker. You could take another two off that, so he probably would have been beaten less than four lengths.
'That was a very respectable run. I know everyone was disappointed, but we think we'll take him home now and we're going to train him.
'We haven't really trained him yet and hopefully what we think will come, will come.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Prague pencilled in for Criterion comeback
The son of Galileo has been a real hit for the Newmarket-based South African since his 10,000 guineas transfer from Ballydoyle in October 2023 and after being ruled-out of Group One action at Newbury with a high temperature, Cunha deciding against a mooted run at Epsom this weekend in preference of a trip to the Knavesmire for a race switched north from Newmarket. Cunha said: 'He's good and he only missed three days work basically, but I think the timing of it was a blessing in disguise and he looks better than ever now. 'He will probably go for the Group Three Criterion at York on June 28, that will be his starter. 'We looked at the Diomed at Epsom, but it was just too soon. He missed those three days and then we obviously brought him back slowly for a week and there is no point rushing him as he's too good a horse. 'To me he has improved loads since and he has just turned a corner. Maybe he wasn't ready for it (Newbury) and everything happens for a reason, so I'm quite excited to get him up to York.' Prague's finest hour came in Newmarket's Joel Stakes last September with that Group Two event on the Rowley Mile the five-year-old's long-term aim once again, with Cunha also having no regrets about forgoing a trip to Royal Ascot for a stellar Queen Anne Stakes later this month. Prague added: 'After York he will probably go to back to Haydock for the Superior Mile he was second in last year and then for the Joel Stakes he won, that is the plan at the moment. 'I think going to Ascot would have been mad and barring Frankel's renewal, I think this is the best Queen Anne I've seen, it looks a proper race. It will be a good spectacle and I would rather be watching with a glass of champagne in my hands than having a runner that's an outsider.'
Leader Live
6 hours ago
- Leader Live
Rogue Legend poised to join growing Resolute Racing squad
Paddy Twomey's two-year-old has won twice since narrowly beaten on debut and was impressive in the silks of the Rogues Gallery syndicate – who will be represented by James Owen's Rogue Impact in the Betfred Derby on Saturday – in a hot race at Cork recently. However, Rogue Legend will sport the colours of the American operation at the Royal meeting, pending blood test results which are expected to be confirmed early next week. Stewart said: 'I was impressed with his recent performance on the track and plan to run him in one of the two-year-old sprint races at Royal Ascot. We will enter him in all of them and then pick the race. 'With a Timeform rating of 104 he is one of the top two-year-old sprint horses in Europe and I expect for him to be very competitive.' Stewart has previously stated his ambition to make Resolute Racing a force on the world stage and last year acquired the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Goliath after his victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The American was the source of conversation on X last week when inadvertently suggesting he had struck a deal to purchase Richard Hannon's Queen Anne hope Rosallion. But he instead continues his association with Twomey having previously recruited Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up A Lilac Rolla from the Irish handler, with the four-year-old poised to make her first appearance for Bill Mott in Saturday's Just A Game Stakes at Saratoga.
South Wales Guardian
6 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Botti savouring ‘special day' with Italian Derby hero Molveno
Having seen his father Alduino, his uncle Giuseppe and his brother Stefano enjoy multiple victories in the Capannelle Classic, the Newmarket-based trainer was thrilled to get his name on the roll of honour, with fellow Italian Marco Ghiani in the saddle. Botti said: 'We had a nice dinner with the jockey and his family last night and it was great. 'For us the Italian Derby means a lot. My dad won it a few times, as has my brother, so he couldn't be too upset finishing second and third this year! 'It was a great ride and I thought the horse was very brave. At one point I thought he'd slipped a little bit too far back in a field, but he actually picked up well in the straight.' Molveno won three times on the all-weather during the winter and was last seen filling the runner-up spot in a handicap over Newmarket's Rowley Mile. He faced a hike in class and distance in Rome, but Botti was confident his charge had what it took to make his presence felt. 'I always thought the extra three furlongs shouldn't be an issue. After his last run at Newmarket we thought we'd step up in trip and I said to the owner, who is Italian-based, if you want to go for the Italian Derby I wouldn't be against it,' he added. 'He loves fast ground. I know with his form you wondered whether he'd be good enough or not, but I've bought a few horses for my brother rated 90/95 who have been competitive, so we said we'd take a chance and it worked out quite well. 'I'm sure it was special for Marco as well. It was his first Group Two winner, he was born in Italy and his parents were there, so it was a special day for sure.' Molveno looks set to enjoy a short break following his Italian heroics before being campaigned abroad later in the year. Botti said: 'Having won a Group Two it will be really tough for him in England and as he travelled so well and likes fast ground, I think we'll campaign him more in the second half of the season in a few races maybe in Qatar and Bahrain and places like that. 'I think that's what we'll do. He deserves a break now as it's a long way to Rome, so we'll freshen him up and get him ready for the second part of the season.'
