G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas runner-up Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will bypass next Friday's G1 Investec Oaks in favour of Royal Ascot or the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, trainer Aidan O'Brien told Racing Post. The G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner was ruled out of last weekend's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas after returning unsatisfactory bloods, and O'Brien told Racing Post, “Ballydoyle won't be going to Epsom. Her bloods have improved but she wouldn't be ready for the Oaks. We have two options for her next month if she continues to progress: the [G1] Coronation S. [at Royal Ascot June 17] or French Oaks [June 19.”
Ballydoyle's stablemate and Guineas conqueror Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished second in last weekend's Irish 1000 Guineas after hitting her head on the starting gate, and O'Brien noted she is in good form and is Oaks-bound.
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