Classics puzzle for O’Brien

AIDAN O’BRIEN has been left scrambling to find classic horses, following the decision to retire last year’s star two-year-old, Holy Roman Emperor, to stud.

He confirmed as much at the Ballydoyle open day yesterday when admitting he was “flat on the ground” when the news was broken to him that the son of Danehill was to be taken out of training to replace the largely infertile George Washington.

Coolmore Stud had many mares booked in to George Washington, also by Danehill, and felt they had no choice but to replace him with Holy Roman Emperor, when it became clear George was proving less than successful at his new calling.