Aidan O'Brien has history in his sights this weekend as Europe's 202 classic campaign gets under way with the Guineas at Newmarket.
The Irishman shares a record 40 English classic victories for a trainer with John Scott, who managed the feat between 1827 and 1863. O’Brien equalled that tally in just 23 years when Snowfall landed last season’s Oaks.
Saturday's 2,000 Guineas has been his most successful leg of the five historic races with 10 victories to date, no coincidence perhaps given the race's pivotal role in establishing stallion value.
Luxembourg and Point Lonsdale will fly the Ballydoyle flag this time, while the pair of fillies Tenebrism and Tuesday do the honours in Sunday's 1, 000 Guineas.
In contrast, both Jessica Harrington (Discoveries) and Ger Lyons (Juncture) will try to break their English classic duck in the fillies classic.
Even by his own standards of rewriting the record books, and certainly in the context of over two centuries of classic history, eclipsing Scott’s tally represents a notable benchmark for O’Brien.
Still only 52, and with no indication of his competitive desire fading, there appears little limit to the statistical exploits he can ultimately achieve.
Except perhaps for the rejuvenated threat presented to him and John Magnier’s Coolmore operation from their oldest rivals.
Top stallion
Shorn of the prepotent goldmine that was Galileo, the search for a potential replacement is progressing under the pressure of Sheikh Mohammed possessing Europe’s undisputed top stallion Dubawi.
That factor, combined with shrewd investment in the emerging influence of Frankel, and all of it moulded by Godolphin's top trainer Charlie Appleby, led to a substantial rivalry for the first time in a long time in 2021.
Appleby saddled 17 Group 1 winners last year. O’Brien saddled one more. However, 11 of his tally were with fillies, while Luxembourg was the sole juvenile colt to win at the top level.
In contrast Godolphin produced the undisputed two-year-old champion in Native Trail as well as a hugely exciting prospect in Coroebus.
So the scene is set for a clash of the superpowers up the historic Rowley Mile at 3.40pm on Saturday.
Godolphin and Coolmore each have a Group 1 winning No. 1 hope as well as a viable back-up, and if it is a quirk that perhaps the most important stallion making race of all is at the start of the season then it is no less fascinating for that.
Native Trail is the only one of the quartet with a race under his belt this season and looked as physically imposing as ever when dominant in the Craven.
Curiously both he and Coroebus are drawn on either flank of the 15 runners which leaves both William Buick and James Doyle with decisions to make about going forward or back.
Luxembourg's three races at two suggest Ryan Moore will be patient on the Ballydoyle No 1 but probably keeping a beady eye on his stable companion.
Last year Frankie Dettori picked up both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks on Moore discards and is on Point Lonsdale this time.
The son of Australia was no match for Native Trail in the National Stakes last term but his run-style is relatively uncomplicated and that could prove a major plus.
Dettori has also come in for the ride on Tuesday in the 1,000, where Moore sticks with the Cheveley Park winner Tenebrism.
In contrast Tuesday has only achieved a maiden success at Naas a month ago. But as a sister to the 2016 Guineas heroine Minding, she is bred for the job and it’s significant she lines up at all given how four of O’Brien’s seven winners in the race were not the stable No. 1.
Globetrotting star
With the 2021-22 National Hunt season winding up at Punchestown on Saturday the switch of focus to the flat is underlined when Joseph O'Brien's globetrotting star State Of Rest lines up in the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp on Sunday.
Winner of the Cox Plate and Saratoga Derby last year, Shane Crosse’s mount takes on the defending Ganay champion Mare Australis and the Champion Stakes hero Sealiway at 3.25 Irish-time.
By then the principal figures of the jumps game will be busy taking it easy.
Willie Mullins will be crowned champion trainer for a 16th time at Saturday's Family Day finale and his No 1 rider Paul Townend is champion jockey for a fifth time.
JP McManus, who had his 4,000th winner in January, is top owner once again with over €2 million in prizemoney already in the bag.
The businessman could end the campaign with a flourish too as the 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante looks to have an ideal Grade 1 opportunity in the Coolmore Mares Hurdle.
She proved her stamina at the trip in Aintree and although a 23-day turnaround is a slight concern Epatante is rated significantly clear of her rivals.
Shady Operator was denied a run in Thursday’s La Touche because of transport difficulties getting to the track but compensation may well await in the opening Cross-Country race on Saturday.
McManus’s colours will be on four runners in the €100,000 handicap hurdle and on this ground Camprond looks sure to be a popular fancy.
Heavy going on day two of Cheltenham didn't help his Coral Cup chances, although a step up in trip could boost the chances of one of half a dozen Mullins hopes, La Prima Donna.
