Great idea revealed for Duke
Monday September 15 2008
Aidan O'Brien yesterday revealed that last weekend's Champion Stakes absentee Duke Of Marmalade could have his next engagement at Britain's newest racecourse Great Leighs, on the way to an assault in the Breeders Cup Classic.
O'Brien made the somewhat surprising announcement in an umbrella decorated parade ring at HQ stating that the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was only a "possibility" for the five time Group 1 winner.
"The Arc is the plan for Soldier Of Fortune and it is a possibility for the Duke," said the all conquering handler.
"There is a possibility that the Duke might run at Great Leighs in a conditions race over nine and a half furlongs. It is an artificial poly track surface so it will be interesting to see, but that is only a maybe and I am not ruling him out of the Arc."
The race in question is the Thoroughbred Open Classic, a conditions race worth £40,000 on the track's Breeders Cup Trial Night on September 27 where the best turf horse in training this year would get a slight taste for the conditions which he would experience in the Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
Other plans revealed by the trainer included the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for dual 2000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator on the same day as the Great Leighs contest.
"Henry will be looking at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and we will get that out of the way first and then he will have the choice of the Breeders Cup Classic or the Mile."
Saturday's disappointing St Leger favourite and this year's Irish Derby winner could also make a trip stateside.
"Frozen Fire was keen early in the race and the ground was tacky and there was the trip too. There was just questions there that I can't answer yet and we might look at the Breeders Cup Turf for him, but we will wait and see."
In other Arc news, bookmakers William Hill have cut the Aga Khan's ultra impressive filly Zarakava to 7/4 favourite for the French showpiece after her ultra impressive display in yesterday's Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.
Christophe Soumillon oozed confidence aboard the odds on favourite, coming from last to first in ice cool fashion to record a success that put her credentials well and truly on the pedestal for everybody to shoot at.
- Niall Cronin
