"We'll find out just how good she is" - Aidan O'Brien reveals autumn plans for stable stars
Aidan O'Brien provided key updates on his stable's leading horses with major targets ahead. Minnie Hauk, Whirl, and Los Angeles are being prepared for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with Whirl also considering the Irish Champion Stakes. Delacroix is set for the Irish Champion Stakes after a solid prep, and St Leger plans include Lambourn, Scandinavia, and Stay True. Due to Ryan Moore’s injury, top jockey Christophe Soumillon will ride for O’Brien, ensuring the yard's strength continues through the autumn campaign.
- Minnie Hauk, Whirl, and Los Angeles targeted for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Delacroix heads to the Irish Champion Stakes; St Leger plans set
- Christophe Soumillon replaces injured Ryan Moore as O'Brien's main jockey
On Monday, Aidan O'Brien welcomed the press through the gates at Ballydoyle and provided an update on his stable stars.
Much of the talk revolved around the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where O'Brien plans to run both Minnie Hauk and Whirl. The St Leger, Irish Champions Weekend and the Breeders' Cup also came under discussion. Here are O'Brien's key quotes about his top stars.
Minnie Hauk - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
We haven't seen the best of Minnie Hauk yet. You're not going to see the best of her until the tempo is very strong all the way through a race. Physically, she's getting bigger and stronger. I thought we'd know exactly what she was at York, but I still don't know. She's relentless and she's on our Arc programme at the moment.
Last time was lovely at York, but we still didn't learn about her because the second horse pulled back and she was a bit in limbo for a furlong or more. We'd have preferred to see her behind the pace and then see what happened. But what actually did happen might have been the best thing because she had a very easy race.
When she gets there, she doesn't do much. That's the way she is at home as well. The Arc will hopefully be a strongly run race and we'll find out just how good she is. She's in the 'could be anything' category. It will be very interesting. It's very possible she could stay in training next year.
Whirl - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe or Irish Champion Stakes
She's well. She’s a possible for the Irish Champion Stakes, but she’s there as kind of a protective in case Delacroix didn’t run, so it’s very possible she'll go to France for the Vermeille and then she’s had her run if she wants to go for the Arc. We have our eye on the Vermeille first, unless something happens to Delacroix.
Los Angeles - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Los Angeles was only just starting back at the Curragh. He had an easy time because it was his first run back and the plan is to go to France for his next run (Prix Foy), where it will be a bit harder, but it won't be him all out. There'll be more to come. Then, hopefully he'll arrive in time for the Arc.
Delacroix - Irish Champion Stakes
I’m very happy, everything has gone well since York. York was a bit of a non-event (for him) really but everything has been good since, so I’m very happy.
He’s very fresh so we’re looking forward to the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. He’s a good horse. We had it in our head that what did happen at York could happen and we were going to follow the pacemaker, but when the Japanese horse (Danon Decile) got in front it kind of changed the whole race.
We’ve always thought he was a good horse and the ground doesn’t matter to him. He’s very happy on quick ground and he seems very happy with an ease in the ground as well, so I don’t think it matters.
We’ll try to run a pacemaker if John Gosden doesn’t run a pacemaker and we’ll make it very straightforward. The pacemaker will go on and Delacroix can follow him and Ombudsman can follow Delacroix if he wants.
We’ll let them turn into the straight and see what happens, it’s very simple really. For the race and for everybody we want it to happen – win, lose or draw we’ll be delighted.
St Leger Plans
At the moment we’re thinking of three. We’re thinking of the horse that won the Derby (Lambourn), the horse that won in Goodwood (Scandinavia) and we’re thinking of Stay True.
We brought you news at the weekend that Ryan Moore was set for a spell on the sidelines with a fracture to his femur. O'Brien confirmed on Monday that top Belgian jockey, Christophe Soumillon would be coming to Ireland to deputise for Moore while he's on the treatment table.
"Christophe has always been (part of the plans). He’s not tied down to anybody now." O'Brien said. “He’s a world-class jockey everywhere, he’s been riding for us a lot since he’s been released.”
"Wayne is having his appeal this week and obviously Christophe has ridden a lot for us through the year, all those things are changing at the moment."
“I don’t know how long Ryan is going to be but we will tell him to take as much time as he wants.”
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