Magritte can deliver Post again for O'Brien
The Irish trainer has won the race four times, including the last two renewals with High Chaparral and Brian Boru, both of whom went on to Classic glory the following season.
Magritte, a son of Sadler’s Wells, is certainly a horse packed with promise and is a full-brother to Vodafone Derby runner-up The Great Gatsby.
There was a lot to like about his racecourse debut, when he strolled away for a five-length victory in a maiden event at Tipperary.
He won easing up under a hands-and-heels ride, and O’Brien rates him as a major Classic hope for next season.
The fast ground at Doncaster would be a slight worry as his breeding would suggest he might want more ease, but O’Brien would not risk the horse on unsuitable going. He can hold too many guns for French challenger American Post.
O’Brien, speaking from Santa Anita ahead of the Breeders’ Cup meeting, said: “I messed up with the two-year-olds earlier this year when I changed their routine, but they are running well again now.
“Magritte is well up to the standard required to win this race and I hope he will run well.”
Connections of Fantastic View are hoping for a bold show from the colt after the race was reduced to five runners in the absence of Cape Fear.
Fantastic View has won three of his four starts, finishing a one-and-three-quarter-length second to Punctilious in the other, and has been ridden on each occasion by Pat Dobbs, who gets the leg-up on Town Moor.
Richard Hannon’s juvenile was added to the field at a cost of £17,500 at Monday’s supplementary stage
“I think he has an excellent chance,” said the trainer’s son and assistant Richard.
“Aidan O’Brien’s horse, Magritte, only won a maiden but our horse is proven at Group Three level.
“I think Fantastic View is the one they all have to beat. It will take a very good one to beat him and I’ll be very disappointed if more than one went by him tomorrow.”
