Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
- Messages
- 13,884
A Thread For The Flatties
- Thread starter Diamond Geezer
- Start date
Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
- Messages
- 13,884
Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
- Messages
- 13,884
Flat Season 2021
I didn't want to start a stable tours thread as, to be honest I don't pay much attention to the flat ones, but I thought this might be of interest to some. Mods please free to move to a more suitable, granular thread if you wish.
Aidan O'Brien RP Stable Tour
It's always appeared as though one of the cornerstones of Ballydoyle's unrivalled success has been the importance of routine and consistency – two elements that were distinctly lacking from the Covid-hit year of 2020.
Considering the weeks of uncertainty over the sport's return – at a time when trial races would be establishing the pecking order for their Classic prospects – as well as coming back to a much-altered programme, it was remarkable that Aidan O'Brien's results from last season were largely in line with those of any other year.
A sixth 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket was followed by winning the Irish equivalent a week later, with an Irish Derby 1-2-3-4 recorded within a month of racing's resumption.
The Oaks-Derby double was completed again at Epsom alongside a host of Group 1 prizes plundered throughout the summer months, with a 23rd domestic Flat trainers' title already in safe keeping by the time successful top-level raids were made to France, America and Hong Kong.
The handicapper doesn't believe 2020 was a vintage year for two-year-olds and O'Brien, who last year admitted to not getting an entirely clear run with his juveniles, was responsible for just six horses rated 110 or higher in the European two-year-old classifications – his lowest representation for some time.
However, he still supplied the top-ranked performer in St Mark's Basilica and enters the new season with the ante-post favourite or joint-favourite for all five British Classics and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The Rosegreen team aren't renowned for blistering starts to the season but this year hit the target with seven of their first ten runners on home soil. Some have appeared to need their reappearances since, but the string largely seems in good heart.
"We'll go gently but so far you'd have to be happy," says O'Brien. "We have a lot of three-year-olds to get started and with all the restrictions we're not really sure what we can do in terms of going over and back."
He added: "They'll turn in up in most of the trials and some of them are going to improve greatly from their runs. There are horses there over all kinds of trips so it will be interesting to see how they get on."
Stable facts
Yard Ballydoyle
Where Rosegreen, County Tipperary
Started training 1993
Horses in yard 200
Strike-rate last season 19 per cent
Total prize-money in Ireland 2020 €4,348,275
Assistants/head lads Andrew Murphy, Seamus Brady, Jenny O'Meara, Jamie Gillespie, John Manton, Matt Gleeson, Oleksandr Movchan, Oleg Gavrylenko, Yvonne Zuercher, Sarmite Loca, Martin Deegan, Maryna Demchuk, Leigh O'Brien, Edmond Kinane, Trevor O'Neill, Vitaliy Makhynya, Finbarr McCarthy, Derek Hennessey, Caroline Kirwan, Ray Pochkhanavala, Chris Armstrong
Racing secretaries Polly Murphy, Madeleine Tylicki
Jockeys Ryan Moore, Seamie Heffernan, Wayne Lordan, Padraig Beggy, Emmet McNamara, Michael Hussey, Killian Hennessy, Stephen Cummins
Twitter @Ballydoyle
Flat winners in Ireland
2020 103
2019 120
2018 154
2017 123
2016 121
Profit/loss to a €1 stake
2020 -€76.39
2019 -€131.07
2018 -€18.32
2017 -€96.59
2016 -€169.60
Older horses
Amhran Na Bhfiann
Four-year-old colt
Galileo (sire) - Alluring Park (dam)
Owners: Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Form figures: 0/432-
Racing Post Rating 111 Official rating 110
He got a fracture when he his last ran at Naas in August but he's back in good form, in full work. We've always thought he had plenty of ability and that he could turn into a Cup horse at four, as he stays well. We'll look to start him off in a 1m4f maiden.
Armory
4c Galileo - After
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
2/44132-
RPR 119 OR 120
He'll be ready to run shortly and 1m2f or 1m4f will suit. He wants nice ground – he's not a soft-ground horse and that went against him just before [he finished second in] the Cox Plate. His runs progressed throughout last year and we always thought he'd be a very nice four-year-old so hopefully he's one to look forward to.
Broome
5h Australia - Sweepstake
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Masaaki Matsushima
146/40-1
RPR 117 OR 115
We were delighted to see him win at Naas last month because nothing went right for him last year and we felt he was in a good place to start this season. It might be he's a 1m2f or 1m4f horse – he may not want to go much further than that. It's possible he could end up being a Japan Cup horse by the end of the year.
Innisfree
4c Galileo - Palace
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Annemarie O'Brien
2112/
RPR 110 OR 108
He didn't race last year due to some hold-ups and has taken a bit of getting ready, but he's now back in full work and we're very happy with him. He's not far away from running and will probably start off over 1m2f, which could be his trip, although it's possible he'll get 1m4f. He's a talented horse and was close to running last season, but we just didn't have him fit enough.
Japan
5h Galileo - Shastye
Masaaki Matsushima, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
4/43359-
RPR 125 OR 120
He was probably in a similar boat to Broome last season in that we didn't really get him to where we wanted him. Everything has been good with him this year, though. He's ready and we'll be looking at races over 1m2f and 1m4f again. Last year was a funny year – lots of things went wrong on us and we might not have got into a good rhythm, but we're very happy with him now and we still have the same faith in him. He could start off in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh [May 3] or there are races at Chester and places like that, depending on what the scenario is like in terms of travel.
Lope Y Fernandez
4c Lope De Vega - Black Dahlia
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
023773-
RPR 118 OR 117
We always felt that he'd be a much better four-year-old. Last year we played around a bit with different trips but we think he's a miler. He can hold his own in those 6f races but ideally he wants that trip and we're training him for the Queen Anne Stakes. He may have a run before and might be ready for the Lockinge but we're not sure. He travels with a lot of pace in his races and you'd like to be taking your time with him in races over a mile.
Star quality
Love
4f Galileo - Pikaboo
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
513/111-
RPR 124 OR 122
Love would run in the morning if we had the right race and ground – she's in great order. She's very versatile and physically has done well over the winter. As a two-year-old she ran a good bit and has always been very mature. She's easy to get fit, easy to train. We can think about all those races from the Mooresbridge to the Tattersalls Gold Cup to the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Coronation Cup – she can slot into any of them. We're not going to run her on bad ground, as she's a beautiful mover and we'll go gentle that way. We trained her hard for the Arc after the Yorkshire Oaks. When the ground came the way it did, the decision to miss the race was a straightforward one, and the rest was history after that. Having trained her hard, we didn't want to carry on the season with her – we stopped early with a view to this year. There are plenty of races for her abroad towards the end of the season.
Mogul
4c Galileo - Shastye
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
13151-7
RPR 124 OR 121
A stronger pace might have suited him at Meydan last month. We might do something different with him in going back in trip for the Prix Ganay over 1m2½f [on May 5] if the ground is nice. He likes to sit off a strong pace but the problem with races over 1m4f is that you don't get the pace he wants that often. Originally we were planning on putting him away for Ascot but he's come back from Dubai well. We think he'd be very comfortable at mile-and-a-quarter pace.
Order Of Australia
4c Australia - Senta's Dream
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Annemarie O'Brien
711916-
RPR 119 OR 120
We're looking at the Lockinge Stakes for him if the ground isn't bad, with a view to then heading to Ascot for the Queen Anne. He's done well over the winter and is a miler. We brought him to the Breeders' Cup because we thought he was good enough to travel and we were just hoping he'd get into the race because we knew everything was going to suit him. He got caught in a little bit of traffic early in the straight on his last start at Hong Kong when he liked to be going forward, but he still ran very well.
Passion
4f Galileo - Dialafara
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
331553-
RPR 113 OR 111
She's stayed in training and is in good shape. We'll be looking at fillies' races over 1m2f and 1m4f. She stays well and handles dig in the ground.
Santiago
4c Authorized - Wadyhatta
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
21/1134-
RPR 117 OR 115
He travelled to Australia and didn't run, but in the end I was delighted we didn't. He had a tough enough season and the ground got hard for the Melbourne Cup. We didn't want to risk him on it when we were keeping him in training this year. We would have loved to have run him on nice ground, but it got too quick for him. We'll look at races like the Vintage Crop and Saval Beg Stakes to start the season and there's a chance you'd have to ride him to get the trip over 2m4f in an Ascot Gold Cup. He's a very classy horse.
Serpentine
4c Galileo - Remember When
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
0/51144-
RPR 121 OR 120
We were really looking forward to him running in the Arc but unfortunately it didn't happen [O'Brien's horses were withdrawn from Longchamp due to contaminated feed]. He did well after the Derby and went to the Grand Prix de Paris as a trial when Christophe Soumillon rode him and was delighted – he wouldn't have got off him to ride anything else in the Arc. He was doing everything right. He won the Derby on nice ground but handles cut in the ground too. He went all the way to the line at Ascot when fourth in the Champion Stakes and we were delighted with that. We're happy with how he's done over the winter. Whether he goes to the Coronation Cup or not I don't know, but he'll be a horse for the autumn.
Tiger Moth
4c Galileo - Lesson In Humility
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
3/1212-
RPR 117 OR 116
We're delighted with him and he's ready to run. We ran him over 2m in the Melbourne Cup because we had to give him a shot considering the weight he had and it was a great run. He doesn't need to go that far again, as he's got enough pace for 1m4f, even 1m2f.
Three-year-olds
Arturo Toscanini
3c Galileo - Snow Queen
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1-
RPR 90 OR -
A lovely colt who's in full work. We were delighted with him when he won on bad ground at the Curragh but we think he'll handle nice ground. We're going to go Derby trial-type trips with him. He's got pace and you ride him for pace – he's a strong traveller.
Star quality
Battleground
3c War Front - Found
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
5112-
RPR 111 OR 112
He's in good order and has done very well. He's getting ready for the Guineas, but whether he'll run at Newmarket or not isn't decided yet. St Mark's Basilica and Wembley are on the same path as him. It's possible we'll go to the Curragh or France with Battleground. We think he's a miler. He's a strong traveller who can quicken. I'd say there's a lot of his mum in him – he's very like Found to look at and he's not short of pace. We're excited about him.
Bolshoi Ballet
3c Galileo - Alta Anna
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
315-1
RPR 105 OR 108
A lovely, big horse who travelled for experience as a two-year-old because we felt he could be travelling this year. He’s a brother to Southern France but is a much quicker horse to do everything with than him. He was just ready to start and we thought he’d take a couple of runs before the Derby so we started him off at Leopardstown yesterday in the Ballysax Stakes. He would have learned plenty from that and appreciated being able to get down and stretch out on nicer ground than he raced on the previous time. He could go for the Derrinstown Derby Trial.
Carlisle Bay
3c Galileo - Toogoodtobetrue
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
13-
RPR 101 OR 101
A big, solid horse who handles ease in the ground and should stay nicely. I don't know why he'd have been a bit uneasy in the stalls at Leopardstown last year but I wouldn't worry about it – that wouldn't be him. He'll get 1m4f well.
Cleveland
3c Camelot - Venus De Milo
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
551-
RPR 98 OR 98
He's got a lot of class and always worked like a very good horse. We couldn't understand how he got beaten on his first two starts. He's a great mover, quickens up well and is in a good place. He won on testing ground but that wouldn't have been to his advantage. He's an exciting horse and could start off in a trial.
Divinely
3f Galileo - Red Evie
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
52418-
RPR 99 OR 97
A solid, hardy filly. She'll go an Oaks route and we'll see how she gets on in a trial, possibly starting off at Navan [in the Salsabil Stakes on April 25]. We think she's going to stay 1m4f.
Empress Josephine
3f Galileo - Lillie Langtry
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
10
RPR 80 OR -
It was just the way the season worked out rather than backwardness that we didn’t run her last year and she put up a good performance over a mile at Naas last month. Maybe they went just a fraction too quick up front at Leopardstown on Sunday and those who raced towards the pace didn’t get home. It’ll make her sharper for next time.
Star quality
High Definition
3c Galileo - Palace
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor/Westerberg
11-
RPR 113 OR 115
He's in really good order and is nearly ready. We were debating about entering him for Leopardstown over the weekend but he'll probably go to the Derrinstown Derby Trial [on May 9] and that'll be him. We always felt that maybe he was a horse who would just need one run before Epsom rather than two. He's a big baby and that's why we were cautious with him last season in giving him just the two runs. What he's got is an unbelievably long stride. When he opens up, he makes up ground very quick, even though it doesn't look like he's quickening. When his stride starts to lengthen, he cuts horses down very fast. We were thinking about going to a Guineas with him but we'd have had to wind him up too early, then wait, so we're going to go gentle instead. He's a long, easy-moving horse who'll be suited by nice ground.
Joan Of Arc
3f Galileo - You'resothrilling
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
2-16
RPR 85 OR -
We thought she was lovely last year and that she’d win at Dundalk on her debut but she was beaten by Hazel, one of Donnacha’s who he always liked. It was still a lovely run and we put her away before she won nicely at the Curragh last month. I’d say you could draw a line through her Leopardstown run on Sunday, She got a bit hung up with the pace. We might step her up in trip and take our time a little bit next time.
Khartoum
3c Pioneerof The Nile - Up
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Peter Brant
31-
RPR 88 OR 92
I thought he was going to get a mile, 1m2f or further last year, but this year he's got a lot sharper. It's possible he could run in the Craven at Newmarket. He's done very well over the winter and is doing everything right.
Lough Derg
3c Galileo - Easton Angel
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1-4
RPR 88 OR -
He had probably gone a bit lazy, having done a lot of work and been in for a long time at the end of last year, so we ran him at Dundalk in November to give him experience and he won. He ran a grand race at Leopardstown on Sunday and we think he’ll come forward plenty from it. He may have preferred the pace a bit stronger.
Dark horse
Matchless
3c Galileo - Bye Bye Birdie
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
41-9
RPR 82 OR 92
He won a maiden at Listowel last September on his second start and is probably a mile or 1m2f type. It was a bit messy for him at Leopardstown on Sunday. The horses that went forward all stayed there and we dropped him in because we felt the pace would be hot. Hopefully he’ll make a big jump forward next time.
Merchants Quay
3c No Nay Never - Painting
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
214-
RPR 94 OR 97
We always thought he was a very good horse and he’s become stronger physically. I know he won last year but we always thought he’s better than he showed then. Wayne [Lordan] was happy with him at Leopardstown on Sunday. We felt that he’d need it and ran him to see if he’d go up or down in trip. We were happy and Wayne felt he’d get a mile.
Military Style
3c War Front - Together Forever
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1319-
RPR 104 OR 106
Good ground over 7f, or maybe a mile, suits him. He's in full work and is in a good place. We'll find races for him with an eye on the ground.
Monday
3f Fastnet Rock - Ballydoyle
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
414-
RPR 104 OR 102
She had been doing all her work right but was a little stiff the other morning so we're just going to give her a bit of an easy time. She looks like she'll stay a little further than a mile.
Mother Earth
3f Zoffany - Many Colours
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
133032-
RPR 111 OR 111
She's ready to run, is in good order and will probably start off at Newmarket in the 1,000 Guineas. She took her racing well last year and ran very well at the Breeders' Cup when second.
Queen's Speech
3f American Pharoah - Paradise Playgirl
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
1-
RPR 92 OR -
She won well on heavy ground at the Curragh. You'd probably think around a mile will be her trip, maybe she'll stay further, but she's very easy to train and straightforward.
Sandhurst
3c Galileo - How's She Cuttin'
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
31-
RPR 90 OR 98
A hardy type of horse who works nice and is ready to go. Even though he's entered in the Derby I think he might prefer shorter, possibly something like the French Derby. His pedigree suggests even a mile might be far enough for him.
Santa Barbara
3f Camelot - Senta's Dream
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith/Westerberg
1-
RPR 91 OR -
We had thought about running Santa Barbara in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown before going to Newmarket but decided against it. She's in a great place and we're very happy with everything she's doing. It will be straight to the Guineas without a run. It's obviously a big concern heading into a Guineas that this filly has only had one easy run at two, but we always had it in our heads that we wouldn't run her too much last season. She shows no greenness whatsoever in her work but it could be because she goes through it so easy. It's a big ask but she works extra special, always has done.
Sir Lamorak
3c Camelot - Simply A Star
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
54-11
RPR 87 OR 85
He had some lovely runs last year, all the horses around him have all been winning, and we were delighted with him when winning at Dundalk off a very slow pace. That was a messy race and he made a big jump from there to win at Leopardstown on Sunday. He loved the nice ground, even pace and a mile and a quarter so he'll probably slip into a Derby trial next.
Sir Lucan
3c Camelot - Sparrow
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
541-
RPR 102 OR 104
His brother Sir Dragonet didn't even run at two and this horse came forward a lot over the winter. He's in a good place and will go somewhere for a trial, possibly Chester. We'll have to split them up. He won't mind ease in the ground and those horses learn a lot if they're having just one run before the Derby.
St Mark's Basilica
3c Siyouni - Cabaret
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
25131-
RPR 121 OR 120
He was always a very nice horse and worked well but we rushed him a bit last season because we wanted to get a run into him before the Phoenix Stakes. He only had one run in a maiden before that and was still green and babyish. In fairness to him, all the races were coming a bit too quick last year but he managed to get it all together in the Dewhurst after all that happened to him. He's a lovely, straightforward, honest horse who's being trained for the Guineas. At the moment we think he'll go straight there. It's possible he could get a bit further than a mile, we'll see.
Van Gogh
3c American Pharoah - Imagine
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle
262121-
RPR 116 OR 114
Last season he was a big horse who we were kind of chasing all year. Even though he was missing the targets, he stayed standing up and kept going into all the fights, getting through them even though he wasn't winning. After every one of them, he seemed to grow and mature, mentally and physically. He started getting on top of us a little before he went to France and then we saw what happened. The experience stood him in good stead. He's another very exciting horse. He'd have to prefer better ground, he's a lovely mover. He's being trained for the Guineas at the moment but they can't all go there so he could be a Derby or a French Derby horse.
Wembley
3c Galileo - Inca Princess
Derrick Smith
322122-
RPR 119 OR 118
I'd say he's a real miler and probably won't get much further, but he's got a lot of class through a race and travels very strong – one you'd ride to get a mile. We're very happy with him and he's done well over the winter. If he goes to Newmarket it will be straight there.
Willow
3f American Pharoah - Peeping Fawn
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
431-
RPR 88 OR 94
An Oaks type. At the minute she's going to love 1m2f or further. A big filly, she's done well and will start in an Oaks trial. Everything she was doing last year was only in preparation for this year.
Wordsworth
3c Galileo - Chelsea Rose
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
2-
RPR 80 OR -
A good, hardy horse who could develop into a Classic type. He's done very nicely from two to three and will stay well over 1m4f or further. He's nearly ready and could run over 1m2f at Leopardstown next week. He'll improve a lot from the run.
Two-year-olds
Tenebrism (Caravaggio - Immortal Verse) was working lovely before she won at Naas. Her stalls work had been good but a horse jumped slightly across her when she broke and that seemed to send her back a little in the early stages. When Seamus got her out, her class kicked in. We'll think about the Marble Hill at the Curragh [on May 22] and then hopefully go on to Royal Ascot for the Queen Mary or Albany, maybe the latter.
There's an unnamed colt by Caravaggio out of a mare called Sparrow who goes nicely. He's a brother to Sir Dragonet and Sir Lucan, both by Camelot, but this horse is more forward and should be out early.
We've got a nice unnamed Australia colt out of Sweepstake who's doing everything right. He's a brother to Broome but is going to be earlier than him. You’d have to be very happy with what Cadamosto (No Nay Never - Saucy Spirit) did at Dundalk on Saturday. He looks a fast, hardy horse and five or six furlongs on nice ground should suit him.
There's also an unnamed colt out of [five-time Grade 1-winning US mare] Lady Eli by War Front. He's fast, sharp and early, does his half speeds nicely and will like good ground. We also like a half-sister to Fancy Blue called Contarelli Chapel (Caravaggio - Chenchikova).
Another unnamed colt by Churchill out of Where's Sue is a lovely, big horse. He's an easy goer who goes through his work well and does everything right. He could be a horse that ends up in a Chesham at Royal Ascot or something like that. An unnamed colt by Showcasing out of Spicy looks like he'll be out early, he's a nice horse who'll probably like 5f or 6f for the moment.
Heart To Heart (Zoffany - Entreat) is a lovely filly. She shows plenty of speed and won't take too long either. She'll be comfortable with an ease in the ground. I'd imagine one by Kodiac out of Khaimah will be a fairly forward colt. He's got a lovely nature and could run in the first six-furlong maiden at the Curragh.
Two for the tracker
Van Gogh took his racing very well last year and is one we're looking forward too at three. We've always liked Joan Of Arc, who's from a great family and won nicely at the Curragh last month.
Expert View
It never ceases to amaze how quickly the narrative can change in racing.
Within the space of a month, Aidan O’Brien went from barely having a two-year-old of note to winning the Beresford Stakes with High Definition, the Dewhurst with St Mark’s Basilica, the Criterium with Van Gogh while Santa Barbara marked herself down as a potential top-notcher when she landed a backend maiden at the Curragh.
Not only is the chamber locked and loaded with big-race bullets aplenty but the early signs are that O’Brien has carried over that end-of-season momentum into the new campaign. That spells trouble for his rivals.
Battleground, one of the few juveniles to make an impact early on last season, looks a proper miler while St Mark’s Basilica and Wembley are also reported to be in the mix for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Santa Barbara has the 1,000 Guineas won already judged by some of the comments about her.
For all that she has been subject to some bullish reports, she looked a potential star in the making when winning her first and only start at the Curragh last season and it will be fascinating to chart her progress.
High Definition is arguably the most exciting three-year-old colt that O’Brien has to go to war with.
Reported to be on track for the Derrinstown Derby Trial, that should leave him spot on for Epsom and odds of 4-1 about him winning the Derby is fair at this juncture.
The expectation is there for Love to confirm herself the best older horse in Europe. Victory in the Arc would cement that status but, as we saw last season, her participation in that race will be ground dependent.
She could sweep the boards this year and there is little doubting her top-dog status at Ballydoyle.
Mogul has showed the odd flash of brilliance and will be in for another profitable campaign while Japan is another high-class older horse who will be on his travels.
By Brian Sheerin
I didn't want to start a stable tours thread as, to be honest I don't pay much attention to the flat ones, but I thought this might be of interest to some. Mods please free to move to a more suitable, granular thread if you wish.
Aidan O'Brien RP Stable Tour
It's always appeared as though one of the cornerstones of Ballydoyle's unrivalled success has been the importance of routine and consistency – two elements that were distinctly lacking from the Covid-hit year of 2020.
Considering the weeks of uncertainty over the sport's return – at a time when trial races would be establishing the pecking order for their Classic prospects – as well as coming back to a much-altered programme, it was remarkable that Aidan O'Brien's results from last season were largely in line with those of any other year.
A sixth 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket was followed by winning the Irish equivalent a week later, with an Irish Derby 1-2-3-4 recorded within a month of racing's resumption.
The Oaks-Derby double was completed again at Epsom alongside a host of Group 1 prizes plundered throughout the summer months, with a 23rd domestic Flat trainers' title already in safe keeping by the time successful top-level raids were made to France, America and Hong Kong.
The handicapper doesn't believe 2020 was a vintage year for two-year-olds and O'Brien, who last year admitted to not getting an entirely clear run with his juveniles, was responsible for just six horses rated 110 or higher in the European two-year-old classifications – his lowest representation for some time.
However, he still supplied the top-ranked performer in St Mark's Basilica and enters the new season with the ante-post favourite or joint-favourite for all five British Classics and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The Rosegreen team aren't renowned for blistering starts to the season but this year hit the target with seven of their first ten runners on home soil. Some have appeared to need their reappearances since, but the string largely seems in good heart.
"We'll go gently but so far you'd have to be happy," says O'Brien. "We have a lot of three-year-olds to get started and with all the restrictions we're not really sure what we can do in terms of going over and back."
He added: "They'll turn in up in most of the trials and some of them are going to improve greatly from their runs. There are horses there over all kinds of trips so it will be interesting to see how they get on."
Stable facts
Yard Ballydoyle
Where Rosegreen, County Tipperary
Started training 1993
Horses in yard 200
Strike-rate last season 19 per cent
Total prize-money in Ireland 2020 €4,348,275
Assistants/head lads Andrew Murphy, Seamus Brady, Jenny O'Meara, Jamie Gillespie, John Manton, Matt Gleeson, Oleksandr Movchan, Oleg Gavrylenko, Yvonne Zuercher, Sarmite Loca, Martin Deegan, Maryna Demchuk, Leigh O'Brien, Edmond Kinane, Trevor O'Neill, Vitaliy Makhynya, Finbarr McCarthy, Derek Hennessey, Caroline Kirwan, Ray Pochkhanavala, Chris Armstrong
Racing secretaries Polly Murphy, Madeleine Tylicki
Jockeys Ryan Moore, Seamie Heffernan, Wayne Lordan, Padraig Beggy, Emmet McNamara, Michael Hussey, Killian Hennessy, Stephen Cummins
Twitter @Ballydoyle
Flat winners in Ireland
2020 103
2019 120
2018 154
2017 123
2016 121
Profit/loss to a €1 stake
2020 -€76.39
2019 -€131.07
2018 -€18.32
2017 -€96.59
2016 -€169.60
Older horses
Amhran Na Bhfiann
Four-year-old colt
Galileo (sire) - Alluring Park (dam)
Owners: Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Form figures: 0/432-
Racing Post Rating 111 Official rating 110
He got a fracture when he his last ran at Naas in August but he's back in good form, in full work. We've always thought he had plenty of ability and that he could turn into a Cup horse at four, as he stays well. We'll look to start him off in a 1m4f maiden.
Armory
4c Galileo - After
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
2/44132-
RPR 119 OR 120
He'll be ready to run shortly and 1m2f or 1m4f will suit. He wants nice ground – he's not a soft-ground horse and that went against him just before [he finished second in] the Cox Plate. His runs progressed throughout last year and we always thought he'd be a very nice four-year-old so hopefully he's one to look forward to.
Broome
5h Australia - Sweepstake
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Masaaki Matsushima
146/40-1
RPR 117 OR 115
We were delighted to see him win at Naas last month because nothing went right for him last year and we felt he was in a good place to start this season. It might be he's a 1m2f or 1m4f horse – he may not want to go much further than that. It's possible he could end up being a Japan Cup horse by the end of the year.
Innisfree
4c Galileo - Palace
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Annemarie O'Brien
2112/
RPR 110 OR 108
He didn't race last year due to some hold-ups and has taken a bit of getting ready, but he's now back in full work and we're very happy with him. He's not far away from running and will probably start off over 1m2f, which could be his trip, although it's possible he'll get 1m4f. He's a talented horse and was close to running last season, but we just didn't have him fit enough.
Japan
5h Galileo - Shastye
Masaaki Matsushima, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
4/43359-
RPR 125 OR 120
He was probably in a similar boat to Broome last season in that we didn't really get him to where we wanted him. Everything has been good with him this year, though. He's ready and we'll be looking at races over 1m2f and 1m4f again. Last year was a funny year – lots of things went wrong on us and we might not have got into a good rhythm, but we're very happy with him now and we still have the same faith in him. He could start off in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh [May 3] or there are races at Chester and places like that, depending on what the scenario is like in terms of travel.
Lope Y Fernandez
4c Lope De Vega - Black Dahlia
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
023773-
RPR 118 OR 117
We always felt that he'd be a much better four-year-old. Last year we played around a bit with different trips but we think he's a miler. He can hold his own in those 6f races but ideally he wants that trip and we're training him for the Queen Anne Stakes. He may have a run before and might be ready for the Lockinge but we're not sure. He travels with a lot of pace in his races and you'd like to be taking your time with him in races over a mile.
Star quality
Love
4f Galileo - Pikaboo
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
513/111-
RPR 124 OR 122
Love would run in the morning if we had the right race and ground – she's in great order. She's very versatile and physically has done well over the winter. As a two-year-old she ran a good bit and has always been very mature. She's easy to get fit, easy to train. We can think about all those races from the Mooresbridge to the Tattersalls Gold Cup to the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Coronation Cup – she can slot into any of them. We're not going to run her on bad ground, as she's a beautiful mover and we'll go gentle that way. We trained her hard for the Arc after the Yorkshire Oaks. When the ground came the way it did, the decision to miss the race was a straightforward one, and the rest was history after that. Having trained her hard, we didn't want to carry on the season with her – we stopped early with a view to this year. There are plenty of races for her abroad towards the end of the season.
Mogul
4c Galileo - Shastye
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
13151-7
RPR 124 OR 121
A stronger pace might have suited him at Meydan last month. We might do something different with him in going back in trip for the Prix Ganay over 1m2½f [on May 5] if the ground is nice. He likes to sit off a strong pace but the problem with races over 1m4f is that you don't get the pace he wants that often. Originally we were planning on putting him away for Ascot but he's come back from Dubai well. We think he'd be very comfortable at mile-and-a-quarter pace.
Order Of Australia
4c Australia - Senta's Dream
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Annemarie O'Brien
711916-
RPR 119 OR 120
We're looking at the Lockinge Stakes for him if the ground isn't bad, with a view to then heading to Ascot for the Queen Anne. He's done well over the winter and is a miler. We brought him to the Breeders' Cup because we thought he was good enough to travel and we were just hoping he'd get into the race because we knew everything was going to suit him. He got caught in a little bit of traffic early in the straight on his last start at Hong Kong when he liked to be going forward, but he still ran very well.
Passion
4f Galileo - Dialafara
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
331553-
RPR 113 OR 111
She's stayed in training and is in good shape. We'll be looking at fillies' races over 1m2f and 1m4f. She stays well and handles dig in the ground.
Santiago
4c Authorized - Wadyhatta
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
21/1134-
RPR 117 OR 115
He travelled to Australia and didn't run, but in the end I was delighted we didn't. He had a tough enough season and the ground got hard for the Melbourne Cup. We didn't want to risk him on it when we were keeping him in training this year. We would have loved to have run him on nice ground, but it got too quick for him. We'll look at races like the Vintage Crop and Saval Beg Stakes to start the season and there's a chance you'd have to ride him to get the trip over 2m4f in an Ascot Gold Cup. He's a very classy horse.
Serpentine
4c Galileo - Remember When
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
0/51144-
RPR 121 OR 120
We were really looking forward to him running in the Arc but unfortunately it didn't happen [O'Brien's horses were withdrawn from Longchamp due to contaminated feed]. He did well after the Derby and went to the Grand Prix de Paris as a trial when Christophe Soumillon rode him and was delighted – he wouldn't have got off him to ride anything else in the Arc. He was doing everything right. He won the Derby on nice ground but handles cut in the ground too. He went all the way to the line at Ascot when fourth in the Champion Stakes and we were delighted with that. We're happy with how he's done over the winter. Whether he goes to the Coronation Cup or not I don't know, but he'll be a horse for the autumn.
Tiger Moth
4c Galileo - Lesson In Humility
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
3/1212-
RPR 117 OR 116
We're delighted with him and he's ready to run. We ran him over 2m in the Melbourne Cup because we had to give him a shot considering the weight he had and it was a great run. He doesn't need to go that far again, as he's got enough pace for 1m4f, even 1m2f.
Three-year-olds
Arturo Toscanini
3c Galileo - Snow Queen
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1-
RPR 90 OR -
A lovely colt who's in full work. We were delighted with him when he won on bad ground at the Curragh but we think he'll handle nice ground. We're going to go Derby trial-type trips with him. He's got pace and you ride him for pace – he's a strong traveller.
Star quality
Battleground
3c War Front - Found
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
5112-
RPR 111 OR 112
He's in good order and has done very well. He's getting ready for the Guineas, but whether he'll run at Newmarket or not isn't decided yet. St Mark's Basilica and Wembley are on the same path as him. It's possible we'll go to the Curragh or France with Battleground. We think he's a miler. He's a strong traveller who can quicken. I'd say there's a lot of his mum in him – he's very like Found to look at and he's not short of pace. We're excited about him.
Bolshoi Ballet
3c Galileo - Alta Anna
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
315-1
RPR 105 OR 108
A lovely, big horse who travelled for experience as a two-year-old because we felt he could be travelling this year. He’s a brother to Southern France but is a much quicker horse to do everything with than him. He was just ready to start and we thought he’d take a couple of runs before the Derby so we started him off at Leopardstown yesterday in the Ballysax Stakes. He would have learned plenty from that and appreciated being able to get down and stretch out on nicer ground than he raced on the previous time. He could go for the Derrinstown Derby Trial.
Carlisle Bay
3c Galileo - Toogoodtobetrue
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
13-
RPR 101 OR 101
A big, solid horse who handles ease in the ground and should stay nicely. I don't know why he'd have been a bit uneasy in the stalls at Leopardstown last year but I wouldn't worry about it – that wouldn't be him. He'll get 1m4f well.
Cleveland
3c Camelot - Venus De Milo
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
551-
RPR 98 OR 98
He's got a lot of class and always worked like a very good horse. We couldn't understand how he got beaten on his first two starts. He's a great mover, quickens up well and is in a good place. He won on testing ground but that wouldn't have been to his advantage. He's an exciting horse and could start off in a trial.
Divinely
3f Galileo - Red Evie
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
52418-
RPR 99 OR 97
A solid, hardy filly. She'll go an Oaks route and we'll see how she gets on in a trial, possibly starting off at Navan [in the Salsabil Stakes on April 25]. We think she's going to stay 1m4f.
Empress Josephine
3f Galileo - Lillie Langtry
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
10
RPR 80 OR -
It was just the way the season worked out rather than backwardness that we didn’t run her last year and she put up a good performance over a mile at Naas last month. Maybe they went just a fraction too quick up front at Leopardstown on Sunday and those who raced towards the pace didn’t get home. It’ll make her sharper for next time.
Star quality
High Definition
3c Galileo - Palace
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor/Westerberg
11-
RPR 113 OR 115
He's in really good order and is nearly ready. We were debating about entering him for Leopardstown over the weekend but he'll probably go to the Derrinstown Derby Trial [on May 9] and that'll be him. We always felt that maybe he was a horse who would just need one run before Epsom rather than two. He's a big baby and that's why we were cautious with him last season in giving him just the two runs. What he's got is an unbelievably long stride. When he opens up, he makes up ground very quick, even though it doesn't look like he's quickening. When his stride starts to lengthen, he cuts horses down very fast. We were thinking about going to a Guineas with him but we'd have had to wind him up too early, then wait, so we're going to go gentle instead. He's a long, easy-moving horse who'll be suited by nice ground.
Joan Of Arc
3f Galileo - You'resothrilling
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
2-16
RPR 85 OR -
We thought she was lovely last year and that she’d win at Dundalk on her debut but she was beaten by Hazel, one of Donnacha’s who he always liked. It was still a lovely run and we put her away before she won nicely at the Curragh last month. I’d say you could draw a line through her Leopardstown run on Sunday, She got a bit hung up with the pace. We might step her up in trip and take our time a little bit next time.
Khartoum
3c Pioneerof The Nile - Up
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Peter Brant
31-
RPR 88 OR 92
I thought he was going to get a mile, 1m2f or further last year, but this year he's got a lot sharper. It's possible he could run in the Craven at Newmarket. He's done very well over the winter and is doing everything right.
Lough Derg
3c Galileo - Easton Angel
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1-4
RPR 88 OR -
He had probably gone a bit lazy, having done a lot of work and been in for a long time at the end of last year, so we ran him at Dundalk in November to give him experience and he won. He ran a grand race at Leopardstown on Sunday and we think he’ll come forward plenty from it. He may have preferred the pace a bit stronger.
Dark horse
Matchless
3c Galileo - Bye Bye Birdie
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
41-9
RPR 82 OR 92
He won a maiden at Listowel last September on his second start and is probably a mile or 1m2f type. It was a bit messy for him at Leopardstown on Sunday. The horses that went forward all stayed there and we dropped him in because we felt the pace would be hot. Hopefully he’ll make a big jump forward next time.
Merchants Quay
3c No Nay Never - Painting
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
214-
RPR 94 OR 97
We always thought he was a very good horse and he’s become stronger physically. I know he won last year but we always thought he’s better than he showed then. Wayne [Lordan] was happy with him at Leopardstown on Sunday. We felt that he’d need it and ran him to see if he’d go up or down in trip. We were happy and Wayne felt he’d get a mile.
Military Style
3c War Front - Together Forever
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1319-
RPR 104 OR 106
Good ground over 7f, or maybe a mile, suits him. He's in full work and is in a good place. We'll find races for him with an eye on the ground.
Monday
3f Fastnet Rock - Ballydoyle
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
414-
RPR 104 OR 102
She had been doing all her work right but was a little stiff the other morning so we're just going to give her a bit of an easy time. She looks like she'll stay a little further than a mile.
Mother Earth
3f Zoffany - Many Colours
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
133032-
RPR 111 OR 111
She's ready to run, is in good order and will probably start off at Newmarket in the 1,000 Guineas. She took her racing well last year and ran very well at the Breeders' Cup when second.
Queen's Speech
3f American Pharoah - Paradise Playgirl
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
1-
RPR 92 OR -
She won well on heavy ground at the Curragh. You'd probably think around a mile will be her trip, maybe she'll stay further, but she's very easy to train and straightforward.
Sandhurst
3c Galileo - How's She Cuttin'
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
31-
RPR 90 OR 98
A hardy type of horse who works nice and is ready to go. Even though he's entered in the Derby I think he might prefer shorter, possibly something like the French Derby. His pedigree suggests even a mile might be far enough for him.
Santa Barbara
3f Camelot - Senta's Dream
Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith/Westerberg
1-
RPR 91 OR -
We had thought about running Santa Barbara in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown before going to Newmarket but decided against it. She's in a great place and we're very happy with everything she's doing. It will be straight to the Guineas without a run. It's obviously a big concern heading into a Guineas that this filly has only had one easy run at two, but we always had it in our heads that we wouldn't run her too much last season. She shows no greenness whatsoever in her work but it could be because she goes through it so easy. It's a big ask but she works extra special, always has done.
Sir Lamorak
3c Camelot - Simply A Star
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
54-11
RPR 87 OR 85
He had some lovely runs last year, all the horses around him have all been winning, and we were delighted with him when winning at Dundalk off a very slow pace. That was a messy race and he made a big jump from there to win at Leopardstown on Sunday. He loved the nice ground, even pace and a mile and a quarter so he'll probably slip into a Derby trial next.
Sir Lucan
3c Camelot - Sparrow
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
541-
RPR 102 OR 104
His brother Sir Dragonet didn't even run at two and this horse came forward a lot over the winter. He's in a good place and will go somewhere for a trial, possibly Chester. We'll have to split them up. He won't mind ease in the ground and those horses learn a lot if they're having just one run before the Derby.
St Mark's Basilica
3c Siyouni - Cabaret
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
25131-
RPR 121 OR 120
He was always a very nice horse and worked well but we rushed him a bit last season because we wanted to get a run into him before the Phoenix Stakes. He only had one run in a maiden before that and was still green and babyish. In fairness to him, all the races were coming a bit too quick last year but he managed to get it all together in the Dewhurst after all that happened to him. He's a lovely, straightforward, honest horse who's being trained for the Guineas. At the moment we think he'll go straight there. It's possible he could get a bit further than a mile, we'll see.
Van Gogh
3c American Pharoah - Imagine
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle
262121-
RPR 116 OR 114
Last season he was a big horse who we were kind of chasing all year. Even though he was missing the targets, he stayed standing up and kept going into all the fights, getting through them even though he wasn't winning. After every one of them, he seemed to grow and mature, mentally and physically. He started getting on top of us a little before he went to France and then we saw what happened. The experience stood him in good stead. He's another very exciting horse. He'd have to prefer better ground, he's a lovely mover. He's being trained for the Guineas at the moment but they can't all go there so he could be a Derby or a French Derby horse.
Wembley
3c Galileo - Inca Princess
Derrick Smith
322122-
RPR 119 OR 118
I'd say he's a real miler and probably won't get much further, but he's got a lot of class through a race and travels very strong – one you'd ride to get a mile. We're very happy with him and he's done well over the winter. If he goes to Newmarket it will be straight there.
Willow
3f American Pharoah - Peeping Fawn
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
431-
RPR 88 OR 94
An Oaks type. At the minute she's going to love 1m2f or further. A big filly, she's done well and will start in an Oaks trial. Everything she was doing last year was only in preparation for this year.
Wordsworth
3c Galileo - Chelsea Rose
Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
2-
RPR 80 OR -
A good, hardy horse who could develop into a Classic type. He's done very nicely from two to three and will stay well over 1m4f or further. He's nearly ready and could run over 1m2f at Leopardstown next week. He'll improve a lot from the run.
Two-year-olds
Tenebrism (Caravaggio - Immortal Verse) was working lovely before she won at Naas. Her stalls work had been good but a horse jumped slightly across her when she broke and that seemed to send her back a little in the early stages. When Seamus got her out, her class kicked in. We'll think about the Marble Hill at the Curragh [on May 22] and then hopefully go on to Royal Ascot for the Queen Mary or Albany, maybe the latter.
There's an unnamed colt by Caravaggio out of a mare called Sparrow who goes nicely. He's a brother to Sir Dragonet and Sir Lucan, both by Camelot, but this horse is more forward and should be out early.
We've got a nice unnamed Australia colt out of Sweepstake who's doing everything right. He's a brother to Broome but is going to be earlier than him. You’d have to be very happy with what Cadamosto (No Nay Never - Saucy Spirit) did at Dundalk on Saturday. He looks a fast, hardy horse and five or six furlongs on nice ground should suit him.
There's also an unnamed colt out of [five-time Grade 1-winning US mare] Lady Eli by War Front. He's fast, sharp and early, does his half speeds nicely and will like good ground. We also like a half-sister to Fancy Blue called Contarelli Chapel (Caravaggio - Chenchikova).
Another unnamed colt by Churchill out of Where's Sue is a lovely, big horse. He's an easy goer who goes through his work well and does everything right. He could be a horse that ends up in a Chesham at Royal Ascot or something like that. An unnamed colt by Showcasing out of Spicy looks like he'll be out early, he's a nice horse who'll probably like 5f or 6f for the moment.
Heart To Heart (Zoffany - Entreat) is a lovely filly. She shows plenty of speed and won't take too long either. She'll be comfortable with an ease in the ground. I'd imagine one by Kodiac out of Khaimah will be a fairly forward colt. He's got a lovely nature and could run in the first six-furlong maiden at the Curragh.
Two for the tracker
Van Gogh took his racing very well last year and is one we're looking forward too at three. We've always liked Joan Of Arc, who's from a great family and won nicely at the Curragh last month.
Expert View
It never ceases to amaze how quickly the narrative can change in racing.
Within the space of a month, Aidan O’Brien went from barely having a two-year-old of note to winning the Beresford Stakes with High Definition, the Dewhurst with St Mark’s Basilica, the Criterium with Van Gogh while Santa Barbara marked herself down as a potential top-notcher when she landed a backend maiden at the Curragh.
Not only is the chamber locked and loaded with big-race bullets aplenty but the early signs are that O’Brien has carried over that end-of-season momentum into the new campaign. That spells trouble for his rivals.
Battleground, one of the few juveniles to make an impact early on last season, looks a proper miler while St Mark’s Basilica and Wembley are also reported to be in the mix for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Santa Barbara has the 1,000 Guineas won already judged by some of the comments about her.
For all that she has been subject to some bullish reports, she looked a potential star in the making when winning her first and only start at the Curragh last season and it will be fascinating to chart her progress.
High Definition is arguably the most exciting three-year-old colt that O’Brien has to go to war with.
Reported to be on track for the Derrinstown Derby Trial, that should leave him spot on for Epsom and odds of 4-1 about him winning the Derby is fair at this juncture.
The expectation is there for Love to confirm herself the best older horse in Europe. Victory in the Arc would cement that status but, as we saw last season, her participation in that race will be ground dependent.
She could sweep the boards this year and there is little doubting her top-dog status at Ballydoyle.
Mogul has showed the odd flash of brilliance and will be in for another profitable campaign while Japan is another high-class older horse who will be on his travels.
By Brian Sheerin