Aidan O'Brien and Kieren Fallon head into another international Group One weekend with Antonius Pius primed to try and achieve that elusive top-level success in this afternoon's Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The enigmatic four-year-old threw away Group One-winning opportunities last year in both the French 2,000 Guineas and the Breeders' Cup Mile, but will be ridden for the just the second time on a racecourse by Fallon today. "Like all of ours he will improve for the run, but he is in good shape. Kieren is riding him and he has ridden him a good bit at home. The horse will like the quick ground," said O'Brien yesterday.
Fallon's only previous racecourse ride on Antonius Pius came in last year's QEII when finishing ninth behind Rakti. The latter is likely to start favourite for today's race.
The Ballydoyle team will switch their focus to Longchamp tomorrow when O'Brien will be doubly represented in both the 2,000 Guineas and the 1,000 Guineas.
Cougar Cat (Fallon) and Dark Cheetah (Colm O'Donoghue) were seventh and sixth respectively behind Laverock over the course and distance last month in the Prix de Fontainbleau, but O'Brien's previous winner of the Poule D'Essai de Poulains, Landseer in 2002, was also beaten in that race before landing the classic.
"The colts will come on a good bit for their first runs," the trainer said. "Kieren will be on Silk And Scarlet in the 1,000 and Colm will ride Cherokee. Silk And Scarlet will also improve for her run last month, but the favourite (Divine Proportions) will be hard to beat."
The other Irish interest in the 2,000 Guineas will be the David Wachman-trained Indesatchel who was supplemented into the race for €24,000 on Thursday.
Indesatchel's three wins this year have come on soft ground but conditions in Paris are not worrying Wachman. "The ground over there is 3.10 on the penetrometer at the moment and there is rain forecast for today and tomorrow," he said. "He goes on any ground anyway, he's okay and hopefully he'll run a good race."
O'Brien will also have an eye on tomorrow's meeting at Gowran where the Epsom Derby outsider Yehudi has his first three-year-old start in the 12-furlong classic trial. Yehudi was a three-quarter length runner-up in the Criterium de St Cloud last November which earned him a 112 rating. Just three opponents this weekend will include Shalapour who edged out Society Milliner at Navan last time.
Yehudi has to concede 3lb to his main rival and although there have been reports of him working lazily at home, he should have too much class.
The Ballydoyle team have won the opening seven-furlong juvenile maiden of the season for the past six years including with Landseer in 2001. This time they rely on Amadeus Mozart who floundered in the mud on his debut behind Sandie. With that run under his belt, and crucially better ground, he should be a different colt this time round.
Michael Kinane is an eye-catching booking for Ardentaggle Lad in the mile handicap and the former champion jockey also looks to hold a good chance in the mile maiden on the Curragh fourth Macduff.
Experience could hold the key over the newcomers Bawaader and Goldfinger.
Navan's all-jumping card could result in a very good day indeed for the champion National Hunt trainer Noel Meade. Narrackses at his best will be hard to beat in the second division of the maiden hurdle while Zum See is likely to be a warm favourite for the Beginners Chase on the back of a decent fencing debut at Fairyhouse. Better ground could be the key to Dashing Home's chance in the conditions hurdle while Pay It Forward, winner of the €100,000 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival, is an interesting topweight in the handicap hurdle.
