Sunday, 6 May 2012

Maybe O'Brien for 1,000 Guineas


Trainer Aidan O'Brien does not expect the soft ground to trouble Maybe as she aims to continue her unbeaten run by winning Sunday's 1,000 Guineas......


Maybe has won all five of her races so far, rounding off the year with victory in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in August.

The horse was given an extended winter break and is ready to make her three-year-old debut at Newmarket.

"She has no big preference for ground. We're happy," O'Brien said.

"We were very happy with her last year and we've been watching this race for a long time now.

"Everything has gone well so far and we're very happy.

"She had five races in a short enough space of time, so we didn't want to over-push her.

"But she's a high cruiser and hopefully that will be a help to her. She always was a very exciting filly."

O'Brien previously won the race with Virginia Waters in 2005, and his son Joseph could be in for a weekend to remember, as he will ride Maybe a day after riding 2,000 Guineas favourite Camelot.

The 18-year-old jockey told At The Races: "Maybe's uncomplicated, she's relaxed, she has a great attitude and she has plenty of class.

"You'd imagine she'll get a mile and a bit further in time. We're looking forward to her."

There are 18 horses declared for the race, with Jim Bolger's Alla Speranza, the Kevin Prendergast-trained La Collina and Lightening Pearl from the Ger Lyons stable all in contention.

Lightening Pearl will only line up if conditions are not too testing, with the Newmarket course deluged by rain in recent weeks.

The Godolphin stable have two major contenders in Lyric Of Light and Discourse, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and Mickael Barzalona respectively.

Jean-Claude Rouget's Mashoora is a major hope for France, while John Gosden saddles Starscope and The Fugue.

The only three withdrawals from the confirmation stage were Fire Lily, Up and Wonderful.

OSM news service

No comments: