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Chicquita Has York Target

3 minute read

Aidan O'Brien has the Yorkshire Oaks in mind for his French recruit Chicquita, who won the Irish Oaks last term when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre.

The top-class filly was among the Ballydoyle workers who were on show in several groups after racing at the Curragh on the opening day of the Irish turf Flat season.

Chicquita, who was ridden by Johnny Murtagh when she beat O'Brien's candidates Venus De Milo and Just Pretending by half a length and a neck in the Curragh Classic last July, was subsequently sold for six million euros at the dispersal sale of owner Paul Makin.

The Ballydoyle handler said: "We are thinking of the Yorkshire Oaks for Chicquita, and a run before somewhere. She's entered in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, but it would be only an entry. We are taking our time with her and looking at the second half of the year. It was just a day away for her.

"Venus De Milo has won a Group Three so we will be looking at least at Group Twos with her and like a lot of Duke Of Marmalades, she could improve a lot from three to four.

"Leading Light will be trained for the Ascot Gold Cup, and may start off in Navan in the Vintage Crop Stakes, and there's also the Saval Beg in Leopardstown.

"I was very happy with Tapestry, she's as forward as we would like at this stage and we can now give her an easy time and go straight for the (1000) Guineas."

Dual American Grade One winner Verrazano has joined O'Brien from Todd Pletcher, and could have his first start for Ballydoyle at Royal Ascot, although a run before that has not been ruled out.

O'Brien said: "Verrazano's main aim is going to be the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot (for which he is quoted at 9-1 with RaceBets). He'll have a run before, hopefully, if that ground is OK.

"Soft ground will probably rule out the Lockinge. He won't run in bad ground. If we can't run him, we can always take him away to gallop. We're still learning about him."