THE VAST power of Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle empire appears to be swinging into top gear at the right time on the evidence of a 24 to 1 treble at Leopardstown yesterday.
A pair of Group Three Guineas trial victories for Furner’s Green and Homecoming Queen was preceded by a juvenile win for Forester, a success rate sure to please the champion trainer with less than three weeks to go before the vital opening Classics of 2012 at Newmarket.
Whether Camelot will fly the Coolmore flag in the 2,000 Guineas, however, remains to be confirmed. “We are thinking hard about it and we might know more in the next week,” O’Brien said yesterday before adding that the National Stakes winner, Power, may also be considered for the colts Classic. “Maybe and Wading are fillies we’re looking at the 1,000 Guineas with.”
In comparison to those star performers there was a comparatively second-division feel to yesterday’s trial action with Furner’s Green cut to 33 to 1 for the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas although alternatives in France or Ireland could be more likely for the colt.
“We always thought he was going to be a Guineas and French Derby horse, although which Guineas I’m not sure,” said O’Brien after Furner’s Green comfortably beat Akeed Wafi. “He travels and quickens and had a lovely run first time here when he got a bit tired.”
The benefit of a previous start also helped Forester in the opening maiden under Joseph O’Brien but it was Colm O’Donoghue who was on board Homecoming Queen in the 1,000 Trial. O’Donoghue dictated the tempo of the race from the start and when challenged by Fire Lily in the closing stages the experienced filly – having her 13th career start – pulled out more to win by a neck.
“She’s a hardy little filly and she improved nicely for her first run of the season at the Curragh. She’ll go for one of the Guineas,” O’Brien said. “The horses do seem to be improving for their first run, certainly the ones today.”
The stewards asked O’Brien to explain Homecoming Queen’s apparent improvement in form from the Curragh last month and noted the trainer’s explanation.
The one blot on the Ballydoyle day came in the Group Three Ballysax Stakes where the favourite, David Livingston, fared worst of the O’Brien trio in fifth behind the winner Light Heavy.
Jim Bolger completed a Ballysax three-in-a-row with the home-bred colt, and a seventh success in all in the traditional Derby trial, although the trainer doesn’t appear to be considering an Epsom tilt with Light Heavy.
“We will go the Curragh (Irish Derby) route,” Bolger said before nominating the Derrinstown Trial next month as a next target.
