Hawk Wing set to reappearin Queen Anne
In that one mile Group One At Newbury, Hawk Wing blew away the opposition to beat Where Or When by a staggering 11 lengths.
The Queen Anne is also run over a mile, while the Prince Of Wales is ten furlongs. There had been much speculation Aidan O’Brien might be tempted to move him up to a mile and a quarter at Ascot, but he discounted that yesterday.
Said O’Brien: “More than likely he will run in the Queen Anne. Hawk Wing is in good form, but we haven’t done a lot with him since Newbury. He doesn’t need a lot of work.’’
O’Brien is also toying with the notion of allowing Black Sam Bellamy take his chance in the Ascot Gold Cup, over two and a half miles.
Black Sam Bellamy, a full-brother to Galileo, has looked much improved this season, producing a sparkling performance to take the ten furlongs Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, as a prelude to finishing a close third behind Warssan, over a mile and a half, in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
The Prince Of Wales would have looked the most likely target for the four-year-old, but O’Brien said: “Don’t rule him out of the Gold Cup. Michael (Kinane) has made a strong case for him to go for that race. You can never be sure, but Michael thinks he stays.’’
O’Brien said that only in the event of “cut’’, which seems highly unlikely, would Black Sam Bellamy be rerouted to the Prince Of Wales.
Statue Of Liberty, who hasn’t been seen since landing the Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting a year ago, will reappear next week.
“Despite having a 6lbs penalty, he will run in the Jersey Stakes’’, revealed O’Brien. “We want to start him off against three-year-olds. We are not even sure he will get seven furlongs, but he is ready for a run.’’
France, runner-up in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh behind Indian Haven, will do duty for Ballydoyle in the St James’ Palace Stakes, but Catcher In The Rye, second in the French equivalent at Longchamp, will miss the race.
Explained O’Brien: “Catcher In The Rye has injured himself above the joint. He has been scanned and will be scanned again. It will be three weeks before we know whether or not he is finished for the season.’’
Tomahawk will not figure in the Ascot team. He is currently on a break and will be trained for the July Cup.
The Ballydoyle maestro will be mounting a concerted attack on the juvenile races at Ascot. Old Deuteronomy and Newton are the two he is considering for the six furlongs Coventry Stakes.
Old Deuteronomy produced a stunning performance on his debut at Newmarket to score by five lengths, while the tough Newton has won at Fairyhouse and the Curragh.
“Newton would appreciate going six furlongs and if we decide to run him in the Coventry, then Old Deuteronomy will head for the Norfolk Stakes (five furlongs)’’, said O’Brien.
Colossus, absent since winning on the opening afternoon of the flat season (March 23) at the Curragh will contest the Windsor Castle Stakes. Said O’Brien: “He’s had a few little setbacks and will improve a lot for the run.’’
Other Ballydoyle two-year-olds on the Ascot short-list are Tycoon for the Chesham Stakes and Devil Moon in the Norfolk.
The exciting Grand Reward, who looked a star of the future when scoring at Newbury first time up, will miss Ascot, however. “He’s had a little setback, it is nothing serious, but you won’t see him again until the second half of the campaign’’, said O’Brien.
Antonius Pius, who won in a canter on his debut at Gowran Park, has the Railway Stakes at the Curragh on his agenda.
O’Brien confirmed that the Irish Derby “is the plan’’ for The Great Gatsby, but the jury is out on Brian Boru, who performed way below expectations at Epsom.
Said O’Brien: “We don’t know why he ran so badly. We’re putting it down to the track and his lack of race-experience this season. He will have a whole lot of tests before any future plans are made.’’
