Even-money Master primed for Ascot
The brilliant winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas is evens favourite with Blue Square to follow up his Classic success at the Curragh.
Although the ground that day was heavy, O’Brien points out the colt’s best performance was on good to firm ground.
“He’s in good form, he came out of the Guineas very well, we’ve been very happy with him since and obviously we are looking forward to the St James’s Palace with him,” the Ballydoyle trainer told At The Races.
“He won two Group Ones at two and won over six furlongs on good to firm ground - for me that was his most impressive performance.
“Then he won over seven furlongs in terrible ground at the Curragh but if anybody looks at the two races, there is no doubt that the Phoenix Stakes was the most impressive on good to firm. He’s a very good moving Danehill Dancer colt.
“He is one of those unusual horses that seems to act on both types of ground, most that handle it fast can’t handle it heavy but he seems to handle both.
“He’s been well since the Curragh and we are looking forward to him on Tuesday.”
Mastercraftsman had only finished fifth on quicker ground in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. The going at Ascot is described as good to firm, good in places.
Mastercraftsman is one of five possibles from the O’Brien stable along with French Derby third Westphalia, Born To Be King, Malibu Bay and Set Sail.
A sixth Irish entry is Jim Bolger’s Intense Focus, winner of the Dewhurst Stakes last autumn.
Heading the home team is Brian Meehan’s Delegator, who was second to Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas only to flop in the Irish equivalent.
Godolphin rely on Orizaba while a quality list is completed by Lord Shanakill, Evasive, Invisible Man and the Richard Hannon-trained duo Pure Poetry and Soul City.
St James’s Palace Stakes, Blue Square bet: Evens Mastercraftsman, 9-2 Delegator, 6-1 Evasive, 8-1 Intense Focus, 10-1 Westphalia, 14-1 Oizaba, 16-1 Soul City, 20-1 Lord Shanakill, 33-1 bar.
Cashmans bet: 4/5 Mastercraftsman 9/2 Delegator 13/2 Evasive 9 Intense Focus 12 Westphalia 20 Soul City 20 Orizaba 20 Set Sail 22 Lord Shanakill 33 Bar
