chroniclandlord
Senior Jockey
The Ballydoyle handler traditionally puts a number of his luminaries through their paces following the first day of the Irish turf Flat season, and this year worked 68 horses, including triple Classic winner Camelot.
Of the three-year-olds, O'Brien worked Mars, Cristoforo Colombo and Breeders' Cup Turf scorer George Vancouver.
The most notable absentee was Kingsbarns, who is recovering from a foot infection which could see him miss the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 4.
Ballydoyle's horses worked in four 17-runner groups, with the first batch consisting largely of three-year-old colts, including Pedro The Great, Cristoforo Colombo, Declaration Of War and George Vancouver.
Pick of the bunch was Mars, who travelled fluently from the start of an eight-furlong workout.
Next up came the chance for some of the older brigade to shine.
Camelot was unsurprisingly the smoothest operator as he briskly came from the back to the front of the field under the trainer's son, Joseph.
Other horses to feature in that team included Battle Of Marengo, who also showed promise.
The third group featured a number of three-year-old fillies, such as Snow Queen, Hanky Panky and Moth, while the final Ballydoyle squad consisted of the likes of Memphis Tennessee and Eye Of The Storm.
O'Brien said: "Camelot is a big, gassy horse. He was fresh early on, but it was so great to see the horse in that form. He will probably start off in the Mooresbridge Stakes or the Alleged Stakes, and then go on to the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
"Coming here, we weren't sure if Mars was a Guineas or a horse for a Derby trial, but we were so happy with the way he worked it's very possible he'll go straight to the Guineas.
"The three Henrys (sons of Henrythenavigator) - Cristoforo Colombo, Pedro The Great and George Vancouver - all worked well and we are really happy with them. All three of will also run in the 2000 Guineas.
"George Vancouver went really well and he's one to have a fiver on each-way in the Guineas.
"Snow Queen probably looked like a filly for the 1000 Guineas. I was very, very happy with Moth as well. Battle Of Marengo will probably start off in a Derby trial somewhere.
"There's a one-mile Listed race for Declaration Of War coming up, and if that works out well he might go for the Lockinge."
Of Ballydoyle's Guineas team, Cristoforo Colombo is currently the shortest in Sky Bet's betting at 7-1.
O'Brien also had news on his team for Dubai World Cup night, headed by St Nicholas Abbey in the Dubai Sheema Classic, next Saturday.
He said: "St Nicholas Abbey runs. Reply will run in the one-mile race (Godolphin Mile) if he gets in - he's currently first reserve - but if not he'll run in the six-furlong race (Dubai Golden Shaheen).
"Starspangledbanner runs in the (Al Quoz) sprint. Imperial Monarch will run in the two-mile race (Dubai Gold Cup). We're not sure he'll get the trip but we'll see. Lines of Battle will run in the UAE Derby."
( SportingLife.com)
Of the three-year-olds, O'Brien worked Mars, Cristoforo Colombo and Breeders' Cup Turf scorer George Vancouver.
The most notable absentee was Kingsbarns, who is recovering from a foot infection which could see him miss the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 4.
Ballydoyle's horses worked in four 17-runner groups, with the first batch consisting largely of three-year-old colts, including Pedro The Great, Cristoforo Colombo, Declaration Of War and George Vancouver.
Pick of the bunch was Mars, who travelled fluently from the start of an eight-furlong workout.
Next up came the chance for some of the older brigade to shine.
Camelot was unsurprisingly the smoothest operator as he briskly came from the back to the front of the field under the trainer's son, Joseph.
Other horses to feature in that team included Battle Of Marengo, who also showed promise.
The third group featured a number of three-year-old fillies, such as Snow Queen, Hanky Panky and Moth, while the final Ballydoyle squad consisted of the likes of Memphis Tennessee and Eye Of The Storm.
O'Brien said: "Camelot is a big, gassy horse. He was fresh early on, but it was so great to see the horse in that form. He will probably start off in the Mooresbridge Stakes or the Alleged Stakes, and then go on to the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
"Coming here, we weren't sure if Mars was a Guineas or a horse for a Derby trial, but we were so happy with the way he worked it's very possible he'll go straight to the Guineas.
"The three Henrys (sons of Henrythenavigator) - Cristoforo Colombo, Pedro The Great and George Vancouver - all worked well and we are really happy with them. All three of will also run in the 2000 Guineas.
"George Vancouver went really well and he's one to have a fiver on each-way in the Guineas.
"Snow Queen probably looked like a filly for the 1000 Guineas. I was very, very happy with Moth as well. Battle Of Marengo will probably start off in a Derby trial somewhere.
"There's a one-mile Listed race for Declaration Of War coming up, and if that works out well he might go for the Lockinge."
Of Ballydoyle's Guineas team, Cristoforo Colombo is currently the shortest in Sky Bet's betting at 7-1.
O'Brien also had news on his team for Dubai World Cup night, headed by St Nicholas Abbey in the Dubai Sheema Classic, next Saturday.
He said: "St Nicholas Abbey runs. Reply will run in the one-mile race (Godolphin Mile) if he gets in - he's currently first reserve - but if not he'll run in the six-furlong race (Dubai Golden Shaheen).
"Starspangledbanner runs in the (Al Quoz) sprint. Imperial Monarch will run in the two-mile race (Dubai Gold Cup). We're not sure he'll get the trip but we'll see. Lines of Battle will run in the UAE Derby."
( SportingLife.com)
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