Donnacha O'Brien says that he is under no illusions about the task facing Mysteries (Ire) (No Nay Never) in Thursday's Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown where she will come up against the ante-post 1,000 Guineas favourite Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Trained by his father Aidan O'Brien, Ylang Ylang made a big impression on debut at the Curragh last month and sky-rocketed to the head of the betting for next year's Classics as a result.
While Donnacha views his Curragh maiden winner Mysteries in good regard, he says Ylang Ylang sets a high bar to aim at in Thursday's Group 3 contest.
“We think Mysteries is a nice filly,” he said. “Everything has gone well with her since her last run and this has been her target. We think the step up to seven [furlongs] will suit her and we are looking forward to getting her out again. The Debutante and Moyglare are at the logical next steps with a filly like her.”
He added, “We will probably be running into Dad's fillies the whole way along the way, but we have to meet them eventually. Ylang Ylang looks like a smart filly, but they all have to prove themselves when they step up in class, so we'll learn a lot.”
Asked what it was like to get the better of his father Aidan on the track, Donnacha joked, “It's just the same as beating anyone else-it just doesn't happen as often!”
Donnacha knows what it takes to win the Silver Flash having sent Shale out to take the race in 2020. In fact, the race has been dominated by the O'Brien family in recent years as Donnacha's brother Joseph landed the contest in 2021 with Agarth while Aidan won last year's renewal with Never Ending Story.
Joseph is once again represented in this year's race by Nemonte (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), who won her maiden at the Curragh before finishing mid-field in the Chesham at Royal Ascot.
The field is completed by the Ado McGuinness-trained Rush Queen (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), Adrian Murray's Lady Craftsman (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Willie McCreery's Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
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