Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway in September won by the yard's Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) two years earlier.
Moore's Choice…
From the family of Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), staying is going to be Alexandroupolis's game and Ryan Moore places his confidence in him ahead of the unlucky Criterium Arqana runner-up Denmark (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Mohawk Chief (Quality Road), who captured the seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in October won by the stable's former talented Galileo duo Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) and Star Of India (Ire). Surprisingly, this renowned Derby trial has only supplied the Blue Riband winner once since 2002 and that was Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), not among the 11 Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to prevail which include subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire).
A Familiar Tale…
O'Brien and Moore combine earlier on the card with another 'TDN Rising Star' in Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., which unlike the proceeding G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S. is light on overall quality. Ridden too forcefully when second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August, Hans Andersen again did too much early when fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. behind Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Given that he had beaten that peer in his maiden at the Currragh, more patient tactics might see him regain his spark in a weak-looking renewal of this recently-upgraded contest.
The Story Is Still Young…
If the 2000 Trial lacks strength-in-depth, that cannot be said of the following 1000 Guineas Trial which could have a bearing on the picture for the Newmarket Classic and again it is Ballydoyle who feature prominently with the G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing in mind the improvement her dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) found from two to three, it could be that she is still some way off a peak and it would be no surprise if she can make a leap as the 2005 winner Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) did from here to Newmarket. The stable also has the 10-length Naas maiden winner Dame Kiri (Justify), while opposition to Ballydoyle includes Martin Schwartz's highly-regarded Roscommon auction series race scorer Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and John Oxley's Naas maiden winner Madly Truly (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) from the always-to-be-respected Paddy Twomey and Joseph O'Brien stables, respectively.
Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), the Aga Khan's 2022 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up, is likely to renew his rivalry in an early-season rematch with Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G1 Prix Ganay after connections confirmed that is his most likely target on Wednesday.
In last year's G1 Irish Champion S., it was the Aidan O'Brien trainee Luxembourg who struck first by beating Jean-Claude Rouget's charge over soft ground at Leopardstown on Sept. 10. With even more give in the ground a month later, the Aga Khan colt was second to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Arc, while the Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith-owned colt finished seventh.
Aga Khan racing manager Georges Rimaud said “Vadeni is training ok, he is going to run in the Prix Ganay and we'll see from there.”
He added when asked about the rematch, “That is what we are hoping for anyway. I don't know if it will be exciting or what, but it will be interesting.”
Another Aga Khan-owned colt set for his 2023 debut is Vadeni's stablemate Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). The now-4-year-old won four of his five starts when last seen, including a victory in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein during Arc weekend.
“Erevann is the same–he is also doing well,” said Rimaud. “We'll decide soon where we go with him. He'll run over a mile–he's more of a miler, absolutely.
Aidan O'Brien's 3-year-olds were described as a “strong” group by the trainer on Monday and there was further proof of that at Navan 48 hours later as the yard took the two maidens including the closer with Drumroll (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a full-brother to the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn). Slowly away and forced to play catch-up for much of the Vintage Crop Raceday April 22nd Maiden over a mile, the 13-2 shot stuck to his guns late on as the leaders trod water up the hill and wore down Time Tells All (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) close to the line to register a highly encouraging half-length success from that fellow newcomer who is a half-brother to Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). “Seamie [Heffernan] was happy with Drumroll once the penny dropped, but he was very green early,” Aidan O'Brien's representative Chris Armstrong said. “He did his best work towards the end. We'll maybe look at a conditions race or see how he progresses and fit him in to one of the trials.”
The talented dam Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who captured the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G2 Debutante S. to obtain European champion 2-year-old filly status before finishing third in the G1 1000 Guineas, has also produced Deep Impact's listed-placed Pavlenko (Jpn) and More Beautiful (War Front) who also achieved black-type in that manner. A full-sister to the G3 Silver Flash S. scorer Promise To Be True (Ire) and to the dam of last year's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), she hails from the family of the G1 Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Her yearling colt is by Kingman (GB).
Aidan O'Brien opened the gates of Ballydoyle to the Irish press on Monday morning. It was at this event 12 months ago where the trainer nominated Little Big Bear as being his two-year-old to follow for the year ahead.
Without major prompting, O'Brien selected another No Nay Never colt, a brother to Sioux Nation who goes by the name of Alabama, as being the one to keep the right side of this season.
He also went into detail about his main Classic contenders and older horses, all of which can be read below.
Older horses Luxembourg
We plan to start him off in the Prix Ganay. We're very happy with him at the moment. He was at the Curragh at the weekend and we're very happy with what he did. Physically, he has done very well since last year. We're thinking of the Ganay, the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot and then on we go from there.
Last season, he came back and won at the Curragh and then at Leopardstown and then went to France, but the ground got bad. He had a tough race in the Irish Champion S. It was a good, competitive race, but because he had the time off in the middle, I think it probably took its toll on him a little bit. We're looking forward to him now.
Changingoftheguard
He's a horse that's going to get a-mile-and-a-half well, and further. We're going to look at the Coronation Cup for him, and we might give him a run before that. He could get a-mile-and-six and could even get further.
Broome
Delighted with him. He'll probably be trained for the Gold Cup. Obviously, we're not sure about the two-and-a-half miles, but we'll see. He could go to Goodwood and then to the Irish St Leger and then to the Melbourne Cup, those types of races.
Three-year-olds Alfred Munnings
We're looking at the weekend Guineas trial with him. He could be an Irish or French Guineas type. He chipped his splint bone in the Chesham last year, and that's what put him out, but he has done well since.
Londoner
He might start in a Derby trial somewhere. He was at the Curragh the weekend and is going to get a-mile-and-a-quarter plus.
Adelaide River
He worked very well at the Curragh over the weekend. He's going to go to a Derby trial–he could go to one of the trials in France.
The Antarctic
He could be a very good sprinter this year. He will handle an ease in the ground. He gets six furlongs well and could even get a little further. Physically, he has done very well.
King Leodegrance
He runs in a maiden at Navan on Wednesday. We think he's a nice maiden. He will improve plenty for it, and he could be a nice middle-distance horse.
Continuous
He has done well. He handles soft ground. He was at the Curragh and will go to a Derby trial.
Hippodrome
A staying type. He's going to get a mile and six, and even further.
Alexandroupolis
He's working very well and could go to the Ballysax at the weekend. He handles an ease in the ground and we're very happy with what he's doing at the moment.
Ballsbridge
He goes to a mile maiden at the weekend. He's a little bit laidback, but he worked well the other morning.
Drumroll
He's another maiden, a brother to Saxon Warrior, and is going to a maiden the weekend. He's just ready to start, and will improve plenty, but is working nicely.
Victoria Road
He'll probably go to the French Guineas and then we may look at the French Derby afterwards.
Lambada
She's a Dubawi filly who was placed in a maiden. She's a mile-and-a-quarter plus filly. We'll start her in a maiden and see where we'll go from there.
Hans Andersen
He might go to a Derby trial. We'll have a look at the weekend, but it depends on the ground as he wants nice ground. He's a Frankel, a middle-distance horse, and could be a nice one.
Denmark
He's a horse that's going to stay well–a mile and a half plus, probably. He could turn into a Leger horse.
Carracci
He has won a maiden and is being trained for a Guineas trial, but we'll decide in the middle of the week.
Bolshoi Ballet
He's back in full work again and we'll probably go up in trip with him.
Boogie Woogie
She's a good maiden and could be a Group filly, maybe going a mile and a half.
Goolagong
He had a run last year. He's a middle-distance horse and is working nicely.
Tower Of London
He worked nicely at the Curragh at the weekend, and we think he could be a nice middle-distance horse.
“Alabama is a No Nay Never horse out of Dream The Blues (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), making him a brother to Sioux Nation–he's one to watch,” Aidan O'Brien on his two-year-old to follow.
Library
Good filly, listed/Group filly at a-mile-and-a-quarter, maybe even a-mile-and-a-half.
Bertinelli
He's working nicely and is in the weekend as well. He had a little bit of a stone bruise this morning, so it will depend how that is, but he's going nicely.
All Time Great
She hasn't run yet. She's a big, strong-galloping, staying type of filly.
Unless
Just got beaten the other day, but hopefully she'll go back and win her maiden and then get some black print.
Aesop's Fables
A sprinter. He has done very well over the winter.
Delightful
A bit disappointing (in the Park S. at the Curragh) but we think she will leave that run behind her. We'll go back to a stakes race with her.
Be Happy
She runs on Saturday in Saint Cloud, in a fillies' trial over a-mile-and-a-quarter. She could turn into an Oaks filly.
Warm Heart
She's working like a nice maiden. She'll start in a fillies' maiden over seven furlongs or a mile.
Meditate
She came out of the Curragh well, so I'm looking forward to her.
Diamonds Are Forever
She's a big, Justify filly. She'll start in one of those Oaks trials, and we'll see where we go from there.
Water Nymph
She was a bit disappointing the weekend, but we think she'll leave that run behind.
Thoughts Of June
She was a listed winner over a-mile-and-a-quarter, so hopefully she'll go into a Group 3 this year.
Beginnings
She's a filly who won in Dundalk late in the year, and she'll go to a Guineas trial.
Red Carpet
She's a grand filly. She'll start in a maiden, over seven furlongs or a mile, and we'll see where we go from there.
Milwaukee
He's a middle-distance horse and could be a group or listed horse.
Tender Kiss
She's going nicely and will start off in a fillies' maiden over seven furlongs or a mile.
Hiawatha
He's having a bit of an easy time. He was just beaten in a Group race last year, so he'll go into a trial in about a month's time.
Congo River
We'll take our time with him and go sprinting in the middle of the summer.
Starry Eyed
She was beaten in maidens last year, but we think she's come forward. She'll step up to a mile and a quarter and might run the weekend.
Point Lonsdale
He might go to the Mooresbridge. He was away the weekend and went very well.
Time To Boogie
She had a nice run in a maiden at the backend of last year. She'll start in a maiden probably over a mile or a-mile-and-a-quarter, and we'll see where we'll go.
Greenland
He's a Saxon Warrior horse and we might go to a Derby trial in France.
Age Of Kings
He's going grand. He was getting ready for the Guineas trials but is probably going to get a couple of easy weeks.
Never Ending Story
We always thought she was nice last year, and we'll start her in one of the trials and see from there.
Dame Kiri
She won a maiden very easily and will start in a trial at the weekend.
Two-Year-Olds Alabama is a No Nay Never horse out of Dream The Blues (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), making him a brother to Sioux Nation–he's one to watch.
Battle Cry [No Nay Never colt out of I'll Have Another (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire})], Emperor Of Rome [No Nay Never colt out of Coral Shell (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire})] and a Ten Sovereigns (Ire) filly called Brighter are also there.
The Liffey [No Nay Never colt out of Rain Goddess (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})] is another one. His Majesty, who is another No Nay Never [out of Czabo (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB})], and Carnegie Hall [No Nay Never colt out of Compression (First Defence)] are all working well.
Some big names will be on show at the Aidan O'Brien press morning 