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O'Brien confirms Irish Guineas squad

3 minute read

The exciting Opera Singer will make her eagerly awaited return in the Irish 1000 Guineas and head trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Classic squad.

Trainer : AIDAN O'BRIEN. Picture: PA

The Justify filly improved with each one of her five starts as a juvenile and ended the season with an emphatic five length success in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Paris-Longchamp on Arc Day. A half-sister to four other Black Type performers, Opera Singer suffered a small setback at the start of the season, preventing her from contesting the 1000 Guineas.

"At the moment for the 1,000 Guineas it's the two Kingman fillies, Buttons and Everlasting, who will need to be supplemented, and Opera Singer. Pearls And Rubies could also start there," said Aidan O'Brien.

"In the 2,000 Guineas we have River Tiber, Unquestionable and Mountain Bear might run, but he's only starting back. River Tiber is the most forward of the three at the moment.

"The ones that haven't run will improve from their races."

River Tiber will be making his seasonal reappearance in the Irish 2000 Guineas, having enjoyed a strong juvenile campaign. Unbeaten in his first three starts, including a neck success in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, the Wootton Bassett colt had to settle for third place behind Vandeek in both the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes. Out of an unraced half-sister to stakes winners over both sprinting distances and a mile, the step up in trip is an unknown quantity for River Tiber.

Opera Singer is currently the 2/1 favourite with Unibet for the Irish 1000 Guineas, whilst River Tiber is well-supported at 9/2 for the colts' equivalent.