Both O'Briens comment on Ballydoyle brigade
Mar 29, 2013 14:07:07 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Mar 29, 2013 14:07:07 GMT -5
I'm not sure re the O'Brien entries - probably not betting them but because it's I'Brien, I'll give them another look tomorrow. They just all seem to be in tough.
Both O'Briens comment on Ballydoyle brigade
Big-race jockey Joseph O'Brien was aboard when St Nicholas Abbey emerged from quarantine to lead out his four Ballydoyle stablemates to the Meydan main track on Friday. The group walked and trotted the "wrong" way round for 1 1/2 circuits before St Nicholas Abbey turned and led Lines of Battle for a half-circuit at a steady canter.
Runner-up in last year's Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and a veteran of international travel, St Nicholas Abbey looked extremely composed throughout.
"He was lovely this morning," the rider said afterward. "He had a little canter round and he's nice and relaxed. I have ridden him in some of his preparation at home and he seems in good form. It's his first run back since November (when third in the Breeders' Cup Turf) but he ran very well in this race last year, so his chance is there for all to see."
Trainer Aidan O'Brien, the rider's father, is hoping to go one better.
"He ran very well when second in the same race last year and seems in good form," the elder O'Brien said. "We're happy with him and hoping for another good run from him."
Lines of Battle, the yard's challenger in the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby, was sweating mildly under the saddle following the exercise.
"He had a wide draw (far outside post 14) at the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf)," Joseph O'Brien said, "and that probably had a lot to do with the way he ran (seventh). It was a very hard task, and we feel he is better than that. The Tapeta is an unknown for him and he is up in trip, but we think he is quite a nice horse."
"He's trying a new trip and a new surface," said Aidan O'Brien, who was successful here 12 months ago with Daddy Long Legs. "But he won well on Polytrack at Dundalk last year and we're happy with him for his first run of the year."
Starspangledbanner, who returned to training in spring 2012 after an abortive stallion career, emerged from quarantine with his stablemates to exercise on the Tapeta. After traveling wrong way round for 1 1/2 circuits, Starspangledbanner turned and cantered on his own for a half-circuit. Nicely on his toes throughout, he looked full of himself on the eve of the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
"It wasn't easy for him last season coming back from stud, but he still ran a couple of nice races," the young O'Brien said. "The (about five-furlong) distance and fast ground will suit him, while the winter break won't have done him any harm."
Imperial Monarch, who runs in the Group 3 Dubai Gold Cup, and Reply, entered in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, also walked and trotting the wrong way round for 1 1/2 circuits. Imperial Monarch then turned and led Reply at a steady canter for a half-circuit and seemed on good terms with himself.
"His best form last year was over 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) and he's trying a new trip (to about two miles),," the trainer said of Imperial Monarch, who won last summer's Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris.
"We can't be sure he'll get the distance, so we'll have to see how he goes. It is a bit of an experiment and, if he does stay, it will open up lots more options for him."
Joseph O'Brien believes that Imperial Monarch's pedigree will help.
"He is stepping up in trip," jockey O'Brien said, "but on his pedigree we are hopeful he will stay (by Galileo out of a mare by stamina influence Slip Anchor). "There's no reason to say the trip won't suit him. The (turf) track here in Dubai should help him and on the best of his form last year, he looks to have a chance."
Reply was sweating mildly under the saddle afterward.
"A couple of things are new to him here," the young O'Brien said. "Most of his form is at longer trips than this (about six furlongs) and he'll be on Tapeta for the first time. But he does show speed at home and he's by (European champion sprinter) Oasis Dream, so that's in his favor."
www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=35478&from=656
Both O'Briens comment on Ballydoyle brigade
Big-race jockey Joseph O'Brien was aboard when St Nicholas Abbey emerged from quarantine to lead out his four Ballydoyle stablemates to the Meydan main track on Friday. The group walked and trotted the "wrong" way round for 1 1/2 circuits before St Nicholas Abbey turned and led Lines of Battle for a half-circuit at a steady canter.
Runner-up in last year's Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and a veteran of international travel, St Nicholas Abbey looked extremely composed throughout.
"He was lovely this morning," the rider said afterward. "He had a little canter round and he's nice and relaxed. I have ridden him in some of his preparation at home and he seems in good form. It's his first run back since November (when third in the Breeders' Cup Turf) but he ran very well in this race last year, so his chance is there for all to see."
Trainer Aidan O'Brien, the rider's father, is hoping to go one better.
"He ran very well when second in the same race last year and seems in good form," the elder O'Brien said. "We're happy with him and hoping for another good run from him."
Lines of Battle, the yard's challenger in the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby, was sweating mildly under the saddle following the exercise.
"He had a wide draw (far outside post 14) at the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf)," Joseph O'Brien said, "and that probably had a lot to do with the way he ran (seventh). It was a very hard task, and we feel he is better than that. The Tapeta is an unknown for him and he is up in trip, but we think he is quite a nice horse."
"He's trying a new trip and a new surface," said Aidan O'Brien, who was successful here 12 months ago with Daddy Long Legs. "But he won well on Polytrack at Dundalk last year and we're happy with him for his first run of the year."
Starspangledbanner, who returned to training in spring 2012 after an abortive stallion career, emerged from quarantine with his stablemates to exercise on the Tapeta. After traveling wrong way round for 1 1/2 circuits, Starspangledbanner turned and cantered on his own for a half-circuit. Nicely on his toes throughout, he looked full of himself on the eve of the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
"It wasn't easy for him last season coming back from stud, but he still ran a couple of nice races," the young O'Brien said. "The (about five-furlong) distance and fast ground will suit him, while the winter break won't have done him any harm."
Imperial Monarch, who runs in the Group 3 Dubai Gold Cup, and Reply, entered in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, also walked and trotting the wrong way round for 1 1/2 circuits. Imperial Monarch then turned and led Reply at a steady canter for a half-circuit and seemed on good terms with himself.
"His best form last year was over 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) and he's trying a new trip (to about two miles),," the trainer said of Imperial Monarch, who won last summer's Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris.
"We can't be sure he'll get the distance, so we'll have to see how he goes. It is a bit of an experiment and, if he does stay, it will open up lots more options for him."
Joseph O'Brien believes that Imperial Monarch's pedigree will help.
"He is stepping up in trip," jockey O'Brien said, "but on his pedigree we are hopeful he will stay (by Galileo out of a mare by stamina influence Slip Anchor). "There's no reason to say the trip won't suit him. The (turf) track here in Dubai should help him and on the best of his form last year, he looks to have a chance."
Reply was sweating mildly under the saddle afterward.
"A couple of things are new to him here," the young O'Brien said. "Most of his form is at longer trips than this (about six furlongs) and he'll be on Tapeta for the first time. But he does show speed at home and he's by (European champion sprinter) Oasis Dream, so that's in his favor."
www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=35478&from=656
