O’Brien confident of Arc glory with Fame
The Montjeu colt had to settle for the runner-up spot as Sea The Stars took the glory in the Derby at Epsom, but enjoyed his day in the sun when running out a wide-margin winner of the Irish equivalent.
Sea The Stars again came out on top when the pair locked horns in the Irish Champion Stakes earlier this month, but O’Brien has taken plenty of heart from that performance given it was Fame And Glory’s first run in over two months.
“We were over the moon with Fame And Glory after Leopardstown and obviously we made the decision after the Irish Derby to give him a break with a view to having him for the autumn,” said O’Brien.
“Leopardstown was going to be his first run back and obviously we had one eye on the Arc and we met Sea The Stars at the height of his powers.
“Sea The Stars was beautifully trained and ridden and everything went smooth for him, while our horse was running having had a break and was ready to start back.
“Hopefully the two of them will meet in the Arc and it will be very interesting. I suppose all the questions will be answered then.”
O’Brien, meanwhile, believes there is still plenty to look forward to with Age Of Aquarius following his late withdrawal from the St Leger earlier this month.
The Galileo colt shot to prominence in the betting for the season’s final Classic after filling the runner-up spot in the Grand Prix de Paris, but was forced to miss the contest due to a muscle injury.
The three-year-old will not be seen in racecourse action for the remainder of the year but O’Brien is ready to aim the colt at some big prizes next season.
“Age Of Aquarius is fine and is sound again but he just had to have the time,” said O’Brien.
“It was just a muscle up high in his hind quarters and we think he is going to be a horse to look forward to next year. He’s a big, easy going horse who handles fast ground and stays very well, so hopefully he’s going to be an exciting horse.
“He’ll be having an easy time before going on to the winter regime and hopefully next year we’ll have him out for something like the Coronation Cup or the Tattersalls Gold Cup.”
