Emmet Kennedy visits Ballydoyle as Aidan O'Brien opens the doors to one of the most famous training establishments in world racing and talks through his potential team for Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and the Curragh.
With seven Group 1 races across the two-day meeting, O'Brien makes clear just how important the weekend is to Ballydoyle: “Everything leads to this.”
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🏆 CONSTITUTION RIVER | IRISH CHAMPION STAKES
Constitution River bids to bounce back from his Juddmonte International defeat and give O'Brien a record-extending 14th Irish Champion Stakes victory. Aidan explains why he believes everything went wrong at York, why the defeat wasn't Constitution River's fault and why Ballydoyle retains enormous confidence in its Prix du Jockey Club and Coral-Eclipse winner.
🔥 TRUE LOVE vs PRECISE | MATRON STAKES
Could two of Ballydoyle's leading fillies meet again? True Love and Precise have traded victories at the highest level, and O'Brien discusses the possibility of finally bringing them back together in the Group 1 Matron Stakes, where the draw, pace and tactical battle could prove decisive.
⭐ SCANDINAVIA | IRISH ST LEGER
Aidan delivers a striking assessment of Scandinavia as the Gold Cup winner prepares for the Irish St Leger. After defeating Trawlerman at Royal Ascot and following up at Goodwood, O'Brien describes the four-year-old as an exciting, straightforward stayer with a huge cruising speed and stride. Jan Brueghel and Queenstown could also join Ballydoyle's formidable staying team.
⚡ MISSION CENTRAL | FLYING FIVE
Can Mission Central bounce back from York? O'Brien believes circumstances counted against him last time and expects the return to a strongly-run five furlongs at the Curragh to play much more to his strengths. Charles Darwin and Brussels are also under consideration.
🌟 BALLYDOYLE'S NEXT GENERATION
Some of the most exciting discussions concern Aidan's exceptional crop of two-year-olds. Darkness Falls has put himself firmly in the picture for the newly upgraded Group 1 Golden Fleece Stakes, with Aix La Chapelle, Sergei Diaghilev, Shakespeare, Victory Speech and Wall Street among the other possibilities.
🇮🇪 ALPHA vs SUN GODDESS | MOYGLARE STUD STAKES
Alpha has been trained specifically for the Moyglare, but could she be joined by the exciting Sun Goddess? Aidan explains why the seven furlongs should suit Alpha and admits Ryan Moore could face a very difficult decision if both fillies line up at the Curragh.
🏇 GIANT SEQUOIA vs HAFFNER | NATIONAL STAKES
Another potential Ryan Moore dilemma. Giant Sequoia, the beautifully-bred son of Frankel, could face impressive Acomb Stakes winner Haffner in the National Stakes. O'Brien gives his assessment of two exciting colts with Classic potential and explains why choosing between them may not be straightforward.
👀 SIMPLY ASTOUNDING | THE COMEBACK
A fascinating update on Simply Astounding, the impeccably-bred daughter of Wootton Bassett and seven-time Group 1 winner Minding. After a setback kept her off the track, O'Brien confirms that she is back in full work and could make her long-awaited return in the Blandford Stakes if ready in time.
🎯 EVERYTHING LEADS TO THIS
From the Classics and Royal Ascot through Goodwood and York, Ballydoyle's season has been building towards Irish Champions Festival. Constitution River, Scandinavia, True Love, Precise, Alpha, Sun Goddess, Giant Sequoia, Haffner and a potentially exceptional generation of juveniles could all play their part across two huge days at Leopardstown and the Curragh.
Irish Champions Festival takes place at Leopardstown and the Curragh on September 12-13.
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