3 minute read
One of Aidan O’Brien’s leading Classic contenders, Opera Singer, looks set to miss the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket following a small setback.
A winner in Group 3 company at the Curragh last August, she fully announced herself on the Classic scene with a scintillating success in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly had been as short as 5/1 for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5th but speaking from the Curragh racecourse on Monday, the master of Ballydoyle explained that following a setback, a reappearance tilt at the Irish equivalent was more likely.
"Opera Singer is a little bit behind them (the colts) and might not make the English Guineas," he told Racing TV.
"She had a little setback and had to have two weeks easy. When you have two weeks easy, it is just difficult enough to get to the English Guineas.
"It's possible but more unlikely than likely and she could end up starting here in the Curragh rather than starting in England. We won't force her, she's a beautiful big filly and everyone's very happy with her.
"She had a couple of easy weeks and when that happens you have to be wary of it."
One horse who firmly remains on course for Newmarket in May is City Of Troy and O'Brien was quick to provide a positive update on his frightening unbeaten juvenile star.
He said: "Everything has gone very well with him. He's matured lovely, he's moving well, he's going through all his work very well – he's floating through the work, that he's doing.
"Even though our ground is bad, he's finding it very easy, so he's very exciting. It's day by day at the moment but we couldn't be happier with him at the moment."
Whilst Opera Singer's participation at Newmarket now looks unlikely, O'Brien still looks likely to be well-represented with Fillies Mile winner Ylang Ylang, who currently heads the ante-post market at a general 7/2, potentially being joined by this afternoon's Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes winner Brilliant.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old had to show a hardy attitude on her seasonal reappearance when battling off Alphetraz to score by half a length under Declan McDonogh.
"I'm delighted with her, and he gave her a very good ride," said O'Brien of the 7/2 winner.
He added: "I think she probably had the best form in the race, and, on her first run of the year, I'm delighted with her.
"She'd been working nicely and is a hardy filly. It's a big call for three-year-olds against older horses on that ground at this time of the year.
"She'll step up and a mile is good for her. That will be her trial and she'll go into one of the Guineas now after that. She might end up going to Newmarket and back here.
"She doesn't really want that ground, but she went in it. A mile is probably her trip and she's a sister to Alcohol Free."