Plenty expected of Australia in 2000

As a son of Galileo out of the brilliant race mare Ouija Board, Australia is certainly bred to be a Classic contender and he gets his chance in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket today.

A very slow start on his Curragh debut saw him suffer a narrow defeat, but he went one better at the same track at the second time of asking before annihilating another well-touted colt in Free Eagle at Leopardstown.

O’Brien has not made any secret of the regard in which he holds the colt this spring and although his parents excellent over middle distances, plenty is expected of Australia this weekend.