Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that his leading Derby hope Mogul will reappear in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Tuesday, June 9.
A son of Galileo, Mogul won twice as a juvenile, landing the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown before finishing fourth to Kameko in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity on Newcastle’s artificial surface.
O’Brien also indicated yesterday that Innisfree and Wichita, second and third to Pinatubo in the Dewhurst, remain his chief contenders for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas in Newmarket on June 6.
He said: “Horses that go to the English Guineas might go back for Ascot. But the Irish Guineas are too close to Ascot, so anything that runs at the Curragh will have longer term targets.”
“For example, we have to decide whether Love will go to Newmarket or stay for the Curragh and then be aimed at the Irish Oaks.”
Set to unleash Ballydoyle’s heavy artillery early, O’Brien is considering Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and fourth Broome as likely challengers for the season’s first Group 1, the Coronation Cup, to be run this year in Newmarket, on June 5.
And, at the opening meeting in Naas, he’ll launch four-time winner Sergei Prokofiev in the listed Woodlands Stakes.
Meanwhile, the Ger Lyons-trained Siskin, unbeaten in four starts before becoming unruly in the stalls and being
withdrawn from the Middle Park at Newmarket, retains clear favouritism for the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas.
While Jim Bolger has indicated that he’s likely to rely on maiden Fiscal Rules in the colts classic at the Curragh.
And Michael Halford has confirmed his Aga Khan-owned pair Sinawann and Ridenza are on course for their respective classic assignments, despite being denied the opportunity to give them a ‘prep’ run.
Sinawann will represent the Copper Beach Stables handler in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
A day later, the Sea The Stars filly, Ridenza, successful on her only start at Leopardstown in August, will carry the trainer’s hopes in the fillies’ classic.
