Dubai World Cup News: O'Brien team in good shape

Dubai / Timeform / 27 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

The O'Brien family have plenty of chances on World Cup night in Dubai

"O'Brien has sent six high-profile runners for the richly-endowed Meydan meeting..."

So You Think and Aidan O'Brien's large contingent of Dubai runners have arrived safely in the Gulf ahead of Saturday's World Cup meeting...

O'Brien has sent six high-profile runners for the richly-endowed Meydan meeting, with Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes winner So You Think (Timeform master rating of 131) topping the bill in the Dubai World Cup itself.

Three-year-olds Daddy Long Legs (116) and Wrote (118p) are entered in the UAE Derby while very smart older horses Await The Dawn (126) (Dubai Duty Free), St Nicholas Abbey (127) and Treasure Beach (120) (Dubai Sheema Classic) are also in action.

Pat Keating, O'Brien's travelling head lad, said: "The horses all travelled well, and arrived here in good order, no problems whatsoever.

"They have all had uninterrupted preparations in Ireland, the weather back home over the winter has been OK.

"We have a bigger team here this year than in the past, and I'd say they all come here with chances."

While Godolphin trainers Mahmood Al Zarooni and Saeed Bin Suroor both have runners in the Dubai World Cup, the only horse to be permanently trained in Britain is Planteur (123).

The Prix Ganay winner has been transferred from Elie Lellouche to Marco Botti in Newmarket for this season.

Botti's wife, Lucia, said: "He arrived on Monday and travelled over very well. I am happy with him and he will be out on the track on Thursday and Friday mornings."

Botti also gave a leg-stretch to ex-O'Brien runner Joshua Tree, who has raced three times at Meydan this year and steps up to two miles for the Dubai Gold Cup.

"He is well, came out of his last race fine and is fit and ready to go," she said.

"I think he should stay the distance as he was fifth in the St Leger as a three-year-old and I have definitely seen an improvement in him while he has been out here.

"His final piece of work was on the grass and we are now just keeping his routine going in the build-up to Saturday."

The yard's third runner is Jakkalberry (116) in the Sheema Classic.

Likely to be seen later in the week is John Quinn's UAE Derby contender Red Duke (112).

Last year's Superlative Stakes winner is still in the shake-up for the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

Quinn said "He arrived from Heathrow at 7.30 Monday night, and he travelled and ate and drank well.

"I'm impressed with what I've seen of Meydan so far. We'll have a look at the track tomorrow, and he'll probably go out on the all-weather on Thursday. Tom Queally will have a sit on him."
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Dubai World Cup: O'Brien to ride So You Think in Meydan showpiece?

News / Timeform / 20 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Joseph O'Brien

"O'Brien became the youngest ever jockey to win at the Breeders' Cup meeting when partnering another possible Dubai mount, St Nicholas Abbey..."

Joseph O'Brien has played down speculation linking him with the mount on So You Think in the Dubai World Cup on Saturday week.

Trained by his father Aidan O'Brien, Timeform 131-rated six-year-old entire So You Think is favourite for the $10million Dubai World Cup at Meydan on the back of a solid first season in Europe after joining Ballydoyle from Australia.

O'Brien became the youngest ever jockey to win at the Breeders' Cup meeting when partnering another possible Dubai mount, St Nicholas Abbey (Timeform rating 127), to a famous victory in the Turf.

With Ryan Moore, a jockey O'Brien snr repeatedly turned to in the big races last season, apparently lined up to partner current [22.0]-shot Planteur for Marco Botti or Silver Pond ([21.0]), many believed it paved the way for the youngster to take the most important ride of his career.

However, while several horses trained at Ballydoyle appeared among the 'likely fields' released by the Dubai Racing Club at the weekend, the jockey revealed that none are yet definite runners.

"As yet we're not quite sure what's going and what's not going," said O'Brien.

"I haven't been told what I'll be riding and all the horses still have a couple of pieces of work to be done.

"Nothing is 100% certain to be going just yet."

So You Think is currently trading as the [4.3] favourite for the Dubai World Cup on Saturday March 31, while O'Brien may also renew his association with unbeaten RP Trophy winner Camelot this season, the 117P-rated three-year-old current market leader for both the 2000 Guineas ([3.6]) and Epsom Derby ([3.5]).

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US Triple Crown: O'Brien pair among the entries

News / Timeform / 06 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Wrote in action at the Breeders' Cup.

"The way he [Wrote] powered to the front in the Juvenile Turf left the impression he is likely to improve further..."

A healthy 397 entries have been made for the US Triple Crown, with a smattering of British and Irish-trained horses in the mix, including two from Ballydoyle...

US Champion two year-old colt Hansen (Timeform rated 121), winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Union Rags (123p), a Grade 1 winner himself and arguably an unlucky runner-up to Hansen at Churchill Downs, are both currently to the fore in the market for the Kentucky Derby, the latter trading as favourite at [9.0] whilst Hansen is at [17.0].

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Wrote, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, is rated 118p and is currently trading at [19.0] for the Kentucky Derby. The three-year old, by dual Breeders' Cup Turf winner High Chapparal, was progressive through last season, and the way he powered to the front in the Juvenile Turf left the impression that he is likely to improve further.

The Ballydoyle handler has also entered Daddy Long Legs (116), winner of the Royal Lodge at Newmarket last season (Wrote finished third) and last seen when apparently not taking to the surface in the Juvenile Dirt in November.

Godolphin have made four entries, headed by Zip Top (111), who has transferred to the Mahmood al Zarooni yard after finishing runner-up in Doncaster's RP Trophy.

Prince Alzain (98p), trained by Gerard Butler, also features among the entries, as does the Jeremy Noseda-trained Harvard N Yale (97), who finished second to the aforementioned colt when last seen at Wolverhampton.

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Belmont Stakes 2011: O'Brien to Master another Classic

USA / Christina Olivares / 10 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Master of Hounds again goes for a major US prize

"Master of Hounds is by a champion miler and his dam sire is the late great Sadler’s Wells. Watching his move in the Derby and the way he moves, gives every indication that he will indeed get the mile and a half."

TVG's Christina Olivares can't get away from Aidan O'Brien's Master of Hounds as she assesses the contenders for the third leg of America's Triple Crown

How is it that I just can't get away from a horse that is one for eight in this year's Belmont Stakes?

I strongly believe Master of Hounds will run a big race. I loved his performance in the Kentucky Derby. The comment line reads "worked thru traffic" which couldn't be truer. For a long time, Garrett Gomez had nowhere to go in the stretch but once he did get clear sailing, Master of Hounds attacked the ground and fought past horse after horse down the lane.

In fact, he dug in gamely to get past Santiva who had the jump on him to win the photo for fifth. Visually, aside from the winner, Master of Hounds is the one horse my eye is drawn to as I watch the Derby replay over and over.

His frequent flyer miles are a bit of a concern. He made his first trip stateside for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and actually went off favored. He was steadied early in that race and ended up a lacklustre sixth after the trouble. It was back home to Ballydoyle after that. He then shipped to Dubai and his gutty performance in the UAE Derby off a five month layoff is proof that he has improved at three.

The fillies in Dubai this year were considered very strong and Master of Hounds' nose defeat to Khawlah was nothing to be ashamed of. Once again, back to Ballydoyle. He then had a two month layoff prior to the Kentucky Derby and then it was back to Ireland AGAIN. According to reports from the head travelling lad, the trip from Ireland to Belmont was 12 hours barn to barn. After a brief period in quarantine at nearby Aqueduct, Master of Hounds will van over to Belmont for a days worth of training over the track prior to raceday.

The distance shouldn't be a problem. He's by a champion miler and his dam sire is the late great Sadler's Wells. Watching his move in the Derby and the way he moves, gives every indication that he will indeed get the mile and a half. And the fact that Aidan O'Brien continues to ship this horse to America is a vote of confidence in his ability on dirt against our best sophomores. The Irish want to win another Classic and Master of Hounds very well could be the horse to do it for them.

As for the others, Animal Kingdom validated himself with another big performance in the Preakness. He didn't have to prove anything to me, but there were still critics out there, and I think he silenced them a few weeks ago. Let's just hope those races didn't take too much out of him. He didn't seem to have the brilliance in the Preakness that we saw in the Derby. Then again, any Derby win is going to sparkle.

Shackleford is also a serious racehorse but whereas the Preakness distance helped him a little, the Belmont distance will hurt him. I'm not convinced he can get the mile and a half but rest assured he will be sent from the outside gate and try to run them off their feet. And don't be concerned if he gets warm before the race. He always does that. A lot was made of his appearance before the Preakness, but truth be told he did the same thing before the Florida Derby and just held it together a little more than usual before the Kentucky Derby.

Nehro is a horse that always gives you a thrill but still can't quite get to the winners circle. Unfortunately I think Saturday will be another carbon copy of what we've seen from him in the past. Brilliant Speed will run big. Don't let him get away at a price. He was my pick in the Derby and I feel even more strongly about his abilities in the Belmont.

Recommended Bet
Back Master of Hounds @ [9.0] in the Belmont Stakes

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