O’Brien blames ground for Leopardstown flops
Ante-post Oaks favourite You’ll Be Mine and the well-fancied Famous finished ninth and 10th respectively in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial.
The colts fared a little better in the 2,000 Guineas Trial with Viscount Nelson, Fighting Brave and Black Quartz finishing second, fourth and fifth, but O’Brien expects all to improve on a better surface.
“Famous got very tired in the tacky ground and was a little bit tired and quiet in herself, we will give her a little bit of time before we run her again,” the trainer said.
“You’ll Be Mine really hated the tacky ground and we think she will be a much better filly with a bit of time and much better ground.
“We were very happy with Viscount Nelson, he would not have liked the ground either and should come on a lot from the run, Colm (O’Donoghue) was very happy with him.
“Black Quartz ran OK but got very tired also in the very tacky ground.
“Fighting Brave ran very well, much better than we expected on the soft going, we think he will be better on better ground, but we are delighted with his run.”
The abandoned meeting due to have taken place at Gowran Park on Wednesday has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 8.
