-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.P.O'Brien's 8 2000 Guineas Winners - Who will be the notable ninth
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunting Horn 3rd in the 3.00 Bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) at Sandown
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classic update from Aidan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ballydoyle Entries Sunday Gowran Park
2:20 Victor McCalmont Memor.Stakes - Clear Skies
2:55 3YO Maiden - Curly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rhododendron runs in the Prix Ganay at Parislongchamp on Sunday Ryan Moore Is booked for the ride
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ballydoyle Entries Ascot Wednesday 2nd May 2018
2:00 Conditions Stakes - Emprie State - Isle Of Innisfree - Land Force - The Irish Rover - Van Beethoven
3:45 Pavillion Stakes - Declarationofpeace - Murillo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Ballydoyle horses left in each Guineas - Clemmie Magical Butterscotch & Mendelssohn taken out
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.P.O'Brien Season Earnings Updated
The Ballydoyle Battalion is assembling for Royal Ascot - Ballydoyle Royal Ascot Entries 2018
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our second Rankings/Ratings supplement of the season is here - Timeform Global Rankings European Division Ballydoyle Spotlight & News - A total of 15 Ballydoyle Residents in the ratings.
Huge thanks to Timeform website
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leading Sires Tables Updated 23/04 - Galileo into top 10 - No Nay Never flying high - Dec of War & Camelot both in top 10 - Excelebration 7th
A.P.O'Brien Top Earning Horses Updated
A.P.O'Brien Group Race History Honours Board Updated
A.P.O'Brien Career Stats Updated
A.P.O'Brien Season Earnings Updated
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.P.O'Brien Season Earnings Updated
A.P.O'Brien Top Earning Horses Updated - Deauville adds to his career earnings
Our first Rankings/Ratings supplement of the season is here - Timeform Global Rankings European Division Ballydoyle Spotlight & News - A total of 16 Ballydoyle Residents in the ratings.
Huge thanks to Timeform website
Leading Sires GB & IRE Tables updated - Galileo into top 20 - No Nay Never off to a fine start - Dec of War & Camelot in top 10 - Excelebaration in top 10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REST IN PEACE THE IRON HORSE GIANTS CAUSEWAY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
©Healy Racing Photos
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leading Sires Update - Galileo breaks into top 20 - No Nay Never off to a decent start - Declaration Of War & Camelot going strong - Excelebration closing in on top 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dramatically was a Naas maiden winner has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fifth behind stablemate Kenya in the Killavullan Stakes and is an interesting contender in this recognized trial for the Qipco 1000 Guineas on May 6. Dramatically will be partnered by Ryan Moore.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundays Results
Giuseppe Garibaldi 3rd in the 4.10 at Cork
Clear Skies 3rd in the 2.30 at Cork
Flag Of Honour 3rd in the 3.25 Prix Noailles (Group 3) at Longchamp
Magical 4th in the 2.50 Prix De La Grotte (Group 3) at Longchamp
Rostropovich 4th in the 1.35 Prix Fontainebleau (Group 3) at Longchamp
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.P.O'Brien Season Earnings Updated
A.P.O'Brien Career Stats Updated
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.P.O'Brien Group Race History Honours Board
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leading Sires Update - Galileo breaks into top 20 - No Nay Never off to a decent start - Declaration Of War & Camelot going strong - Excelebration closing in on top 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galileo Millionaires Club Updated - Capri moves past Mondialiste - Galileo in a league of his very own
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nelson made virtually every yard of the running to inflict a surprise defeat on fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained runner The Pentagon in Leopardstown's P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.
The Pentagon was the choice of Ryan Moore and was sent off the 13-8 favourite for the Group Three heat, but he proved no match for the Donnacha O'Brien-ridden Nelson.
Positive from the off, O'Brien asked his mount to respond as another Ballydoyle inmate, Delano Roosevelt, started to press his claims in the home straight and the winner eventually proved half a length too good.
Nelson, a son of Frankel out of Irish Oaks winner Moonstone, was cut to 16-1 from 25s for the Investec Derby by RaceBets, while The Pentagon, who finished a length third, was pushed out to 12-1 from 7-1 by 32Red.
O'Brien said: "You'd be delighted with that, it's tough going out there.
"Donnacha was delighted with his horse and said he stays well. Seamus (Heffernan, rider of Delano Roosevelt) was very happy with his horse and said he just got a little bit lonely when he got there.
"Ryan was very happy. He said of all our horses he rode, he wants real nice ground, but he'll come on a ton. It was great because you need to get the racing miles into them.
"Nelson handles soft ground looking at that. Obviously, we had to have something to make the running and he's the fella that held up his hand and said he wouldn't mind going on.
"He had gone forward in his races before and won around here before making the running.
"He'll come back for the Derrinstown and that's what they'll probably all do."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
©Healy Racing Photos
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Moore's trip across the Irish Sea to partner Capri in the Group Three Alleged Stakes at Naas paid off as the dual-Classic winner made a winning start to his season.
Moore sent the grey son of Galileo into an early lead and dictated throughout.
Cannonball ranged up on their outer in the final furlong and a half but edged left under the whip when called upon for his effort.
He did the same in the final furlong but still got to within a head of Capri who successfully fended him off after 10 furlongs.
The Irish Derby and English St Leger hero was returned the 7/4 favourite from 10/1 shot Cannonball.
Aidan O'Brien said: "We're delighted and it was nice to get him started.
“We'll have a look at going to the Mooresbridge next and he'll come on lovely. Then we might have a look at either the Tattersalls or the Coronation. Maybe he can do the two.
“He's a lovely relaxed horse, lazy and a brave horse. Ryan was delighted with him.
“We'll let him come slowly rather than forcing him. We'll feel our way. That's the first time he's won over ten and we'll be thinking a mile-and-a-quarter and a mile-and-a-half with him.
“There should be tons of improvement. I'd say he got tired but he was entitled to and it's nice for him to be doing that rather than racing up there with his mouth open as we've another eight months to go.”
O'Brien fielded three of the five runners. On fourth-placed Yucatan he said: "Donnacha's horse was grand, he's off a long time. It was soft ground, and we knew it wasn't ideal, but it's nice to get racing miles into him.”
On Cliffs Of Moher, who came in fifth, he said: "Seamie's horse was a bit fresh and a bit fresh before it. He's going to take a bit of racing to get him to come down and relax again.”
Aidan on some of his weekend runners
"Gustav Klimt is in good form and is just ready to start. Hopefully he'll come on plenty for the run. He missed the second half of last year and hasn't been out in a long time.
"U S Navy Flag is in good form, too, and is just ready to start as well. Obviously we'd prefer better ground, but we just want to get him out. He seems to be in good form.
"I Can Fly is in good form. She had a couple of runs last year at Dundalk and Newmarket and we're happy with her.
"Actress is in good form as well, but obviously she would prefer better ground. She's just ready to start as well and we'll find out if she gets seven (furlongs) or further. She's never run that far before.
" Butterscotch has form with ease in the ground. How much further than seven she'll stay, I'm not sure, but she's ready to start."
"Sarrocchi won a maiden at the back end in easy ground. She's in good form but will also improve a lot from the run."
"The Pentagon is in good shape and is ready to start. Obviously he doesn't want that kind of ground, but we just want to get him started.
"Nelson might handle the ground. He handles an ease and will stay well. He's in good form as well.
" Delano Roosevelt will handle an ease in the ground, is in good form and is ready to start off as well."
Capri At Naas thanks to Satie for sending us the wonderful pictures
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capri 'will improve' for Alleged return at Naas
12.04
Aidan O'Brien expects Capri to "improve a lot for the run" as the dual Classic hero makes his seasonal reappearance in the Toals.com Bookmakers Alleged Stakes at Naas on Friday.
The high-profile fixture, which also features the Gladness Stakes, was swiftly rescheduled after being cancelled last Sunday due to waterlogging..
Capri, who saw off Cracksman to claim Irish Derby glory last summer and followed up in the St Leger, has not been seen in competitive action since finishing down the field in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last October and must concede upwards of 5lb to each of his four rivals in this 10-furlong Group Three.
"He's in good form. He's just ready to start and will improve a lot from the run," O'Brien told Press Association Sport.
"The ground is far from ideal but we need to get him out. It's not ideal for him, especially starting off."
Capri is one of three Ballydoyle representatives, with Cliffs Of Moher and Yucatan also in the mix.
Cliffs Of Moher lost his way after finishing second in last year's Epsom Derby, while Yucatan - a son of Galileo out of the great racemare Six Perfections - has not been seen in competitive action since May.
O'Brien added: "Cliffs Of Moher is going to improve a lot also and obviously we're worried about the ground.
"He's just ready to start off, but will turn inside out after the run.
"Yucatan is the same, he is just ready to start, and we're just hoping that he runs a nice race."
Group Three honours are also up for grabs in the Gladness Stakes.
War Secretary is the O'Brien representative and Adrian Keatley's Simmie makes up the six-strong field.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leading Sires Tables Updated - Early days
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On poly track debut with blinkers on first time Could It Be Love (4/1) destroyed the opposition under Donnacha O'Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Dundalk.
O'Brien had the daughter of War Front out quick from her wide draw in fourteen, and off the front end she lengthened away inside the final two as her stable companion Hence (evens favourite) floundered.
Hence eventually finished sixth for Seamie Heffernan as Could It Be Love accounted for promising newcomer Terzetto by six and a half lengths.
"She had been working very well at home and the step up to seven suited her," said Donnacha O'Brien on his father Aidan's charge.
"As you can see she's a monster of a filly so probably with the extra year she grew into herself better. She's not a bad filly.
"She's probably a stakes filly. Quick ground is going to be important to her, over seven furlongs or a mile.
"She's American-bred, they are all sharp and have those reflexes. I didn't even have to give her a squeeze to get to the front and that's a big advantage around here."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Ballydoyle residents entered in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes on 19th of May at Newbury - Deauville - Lancaster Bomber - Rhododendron - War Decree - War Secretary
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Road to Kentucky Derby Standings update - Well Mendelssohn Guaranteed a run now - We all know the Kentucky Derby is a completely different proposition to the UAE Derby but you'd be foolish to write off his chances. & to be frank what more could he have done.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last year's dual Classic hero Capri is the star name among 10 entries for the Alleged Stakes at Naas on Sunday.
The four-year-old landed both the Irish Derby at the Curragh and the St Leger at Doncaster for Aidan O'Brien but was disappointing when down the field in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on his final start of 2017.
O'Brien has entered a strong squad of four, with Derby second Cliffs Of Moher and one-time Classic hope Yucatan also in the frame along with Clear Skies, who was last of 10 when favourite for the Winter Derby at Lingfield, although the weather is likely to have an impact on his plans.
The Ballydoyle handler said: "We have left four in the Alleged Stakes, including Capri.
"He galloped in Naas last week and we were very happy with him and ideally we would love to start some of the horses in the Alleged Stakes, but the ground would be a concern at the moment.
"We'll just have to see what happens with the weather in the next couple of days before we make a decision."
The Gladness Stakes is the other Group Three feature and O'Brien has a couple to pick from in Spirit Of Valor and War Secretary.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Moore is faced with an enviable problem about whether to ride at Newmarket in the Group 1 Qipco 2,000 Guineas on Saturday, May 5 or head to the US to partner Mendelssohn in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
For a jockey who has already won the first Classic of the British turf season twice, there may well be greater allure in trying to claim a maiden Kentucky Derby victory.
Speaking on Dubai World Cup night following Mendelssohn's stunning 18-and-a-quarter-length success in the UAE Derby, Moore said: "The Kentucky Derby is a race on my bucket list, but we’ll have to see what’s best to do closer to the time."
Five years ago, Moore had his first ride in the “Run For The Roses”, and was blown away by the meeting, saying at the time: "I can honestly say that the Kentucky Derby at the weekend was the best day's racing I have ever experienced."
Should he decide to stay closer to home, Moore is likely to be aboard 2000 Guineas favourite Saxon Warrior who is currently 5/1 favourite with Paddy Power, the Deep Impact Colt could take in a trial before the race.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said last month: "Saxon Warrior has put on a lot of condition since last season and we haven't ruled out the possibility of running him in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown [on April 14], although it's more likely he'll go straight to Newmarket once we think he's ready."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A clue for Churchill Downs in Dubai, where MENDELSSOHN won the UAE Derby by a margin wider than any horse managed at the entire 2018 Cheltenham Festival.
It is sensible to apply some of the aforementioned scepticism to performances which look almost too good to be true, especially when they take place on the dirt at Meydan on a day when there may have been a faster strip by the rail. But I have tried, and there is only so much “dumbing down” of this particular effort that can be justified.
It still takes outstanding athletic ability to run from start to finish as quickly as Mendelssohn did: I have a time figure of 128, and it could be higher. Only 127-rated Bolt d’Oro (disputing second favouritism for the Kentucky Derby) has got close among this year’s three-year-olds. In addition:
Mendelssohn lowered the all-aged course and distance record by 1.32s despite being just three (though against that it should be acknowledged that the distance is used only about six times a year).
He completed the UAE Derby in an average speed faster than the older horse Thunder Snow managed, carrying the same weight, in the Dubai World Cup at just 100 metres further later on the card.
Mendelssohn ran fast early and not so fast late, which is a style typical of US dirt racing, where getting clear of kickback can be advantageous. His finishing speed of 96% of his average race speed is almost bang on the par figure for Kentucky Derby winners this century (96.6%).
His Trakus sectionals, adjusted from metric to imperial, have him running the second quarter in 23.51s and the third quarter in 23.55s, which are quicker than any Kentucky Derby winner since 2009 and since 2007 respectively. He runs in the style of a dirt horse, and a top-class one at that.
Race and prior-rating standards would have Mendelssohn rated in the 130s, so-called “yardstick handicapping” (not to be recommended) would have him in the 140s at the least.
He is US-bred through and through, a $3m-yearling half-brother by Scat Daddy to the triple Breeders’ Cup Winner Beholder. He has already won at the Breeders’ Cup himself, albeit on turf.
“What is not to like?”, as the saying goes. Well, Mendelssohn is now ante-post favourite, rather than the double-figure price he had been, for a race which will have 20 runners and be unlike anything he has yet experienced. But he deserves that elevated position: that is my interpretation of the evidence, anyway.
