Aidan O'Brien has confirmed City Of Troy (Justify), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and outsider Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as his three intended runners in the G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
“That is what we're thinking of, maybe the three,” O'Brien said in a Zoom call hosted by France Galop on Tuesday. “Everything seems well with them all at the moment, so that's what we're thinking.
“They're giving Friday and Saturday dry [forecast], so you often see the ground can be slow for the Oaks and perfect for the Derby. We think and hope it's going to be nice ground and I think that'll suit everybody really.”
Europe's champion two-year-old in 2023, City Of Troy proved a big disappointment when finishing down the field on his return to action in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, but Ryan Moore is set to maintain the partnership on Saturday according to O'Brien. Moore also had the option of riding the G3 Derby Trial S. winner Los Angeles, who has been very strong in the betting in recent days, but Wayne Lordan seems likely to take the mount again on that unbeaten colt following their victory at Leopardstown together.
“That's the plan, that is what we were thinking of doing,” the trainer said. “I didn't hear anything different and I think that has been the plan all along.”
Champion 2YO City Of Troy (JUSTIFY) working @Ballydoyle this morning ahead of his Epsom Derby bid @EpsomRacecourse on Saturday #Coolmore #HomeOfChampions #Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/RH5Avcao4f
— Coolmore (@coolmorestud) May 28, 2024
O'Brien also issued a positive bulletin on Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who is set to be joined by stable companion Cambridge (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. Diego Velazquez was beaten just a length when last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp and his trainer expects the step up to a mile and a quarter to play to his strengths at Chantilly.
“We were very happy with the run in the French Guineas,” said O'Brien. “We always thought he would run a very nice race and we always thought the step up to mile and a quarter would suit him well. We were delighted to go to Longchamp because it is obviously right-handed like Chantilly. We felt these two races would suit him well and we were very happy with the way he came out of the French Guineas and happy with everything he has done since.”
On the likelihood of soft ground at Chantilly, O'Brien added, “Obviously he is a very good mover so the better the ground, the better it would suit him. We thought he would probably want good, fast ground as you can see when you see him gallop he has a very low, long action. Hopefully the ground won't be soft and will improve [before Sunday].”
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