Irish Champions Weekend 2025 News - Aidan O'Brien Stable Tour
On the eve of Irish Champions Weekend 2025, legendary trainer Aidan O'Brien provided an in-depth stable tour, discussing his key runners in the upcoming Group One races at Leopardstown and the Curragh. O'Brien highlighted Delacroix's versatility and importance, shared candid reflections on training changes for January, detailed tactical assessments for Jan Brueghel and Illinois, and showed high hopes for juveniles Composing and Gstaad. The focus is on fine-tuning strategy and preparation to optimize results across prestigious races.
- Key quotes from Aidan O'Brien ahead of the Irish Champions Weekend 2025
- O'Brien ran through his Group One runners this weekend
- Read quotes on Delacroix, Jan Brueghel, Composing and more
On the eve of Irish Champions Weekend 2025, Aidan O'Brien has provided quotes on the horses he'll running in the Group Ones at Leopardstown and the Curragh.
Here's the Aidan O'Brien Irish Champions Weekend stable tour in full. All quotes are attributed to Racing TV.
Aidan O'Brien Stable Tour - Irish Champions Festival 2025
Delacroix (Irish Champion Stakes)
He's good. Everything has went well. He won in Sandown (Coral-Eclipse) and came second at York. Sandown was a bit messy, but nearly as messy as York. York was a total farce of a race really as the pacemaker got away, so unless you were in the front-line you had no chance.
He's happy to make the running, he's happy to follow a pacemaker. He's a very versatile horse. He's won twice around Leopardstown. He obviously stays well and he quickens well. He's a unique type of horse - the kind of horse we've been waiting for for a long time.
Whether he'll run again after this, I don't know, the lads will decide. To have a Dubawi with that kind of ability, out of a top mare, he's a very important horse for us to go to stud.
January (Matron Stakes)
She's a good filly. Hasn't won a Group One, which is a bit disappointing really. She comes there to win and just doesn't always follow through.
Maybe we haven't got it right with her. We've changed things up with her, changed her training routine a bit, so let's see if we can get that little bit of improvement. Sometimes when you do that they go back, but at least we have to try.
Jan Brueghel (Irish St Leger)
We did the complete opposite of what we did at Epsom (In the King George). It's probably one of the most stupid things I've ever done in my life, and I don't know why.
We got it spot on with a pacemaker at Epsom. We let him race by himself at Ascot and he was just very idle, he never engaged at all, so it was a bit of a disaster really.
He's in good form, and obviously we know he stays well and he'll love the Curragh. I definitely think he will (Improve again next season) and he could be a Cup horse any time.
Illinois (Irish St Leger)
Illinois ran a very good race in Goodwood. He found the Gold Cup at Ascot a little bit tough and his preparation for it wasn't perfect. We think he's a bit better than he was in Goodwood, but we think, with another year under his belt, he'll be better next year.
Composing (Moyglare Stud Stakes)
She's a lovely filly. She's done everything right. She's out of Wootton Bassett, so what can I say, and she's out of an Australian mare.
She was very impressive the last day. She's gone through all the different stages lovely. Very happy with her. She's have no problem getting seven at the Curragh and she'll get further.
Gstaad (National Stakes)
Deauville was plenty tight for him, but with anothet stride he was up. He came back from Deauville heavier than when he went, which means he didn't really have much of a race.
He's in good form. We always thought seven would suit him very well, so we're looking forward to seeing him run.
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