Aidan O’Brien’s “unusual” pair of late bloomers Twain and Expanded are vying to pick up the mantle from The Lion In Winter as Ballydoyle’s chief Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hope after the champion trainer cast doubt over the participation of the long-time ante-post favorite.
Both colts showed immense promise in group 1-company shortly after making winning debuts in October and, having wintered well, shot to the head of the market March 24 with Expanded the general 5-1 favorite for the first classic of the season at Newmarket May 3 and Twain 7-1.
The Lion In Winter landed a Curragh maiden on his debut before an impressive length-and-three-quarter victory in the Acomb Stakes (G3) at York but the Guineas participation of the Sea The Stars colt hinges on his progress in the coming weeks.
O’Brien said: “The Lion In Winter is in good shape but he took a little bit of time to come right so he’s a little bit behind the others. He was at the Curragh last weekend and it went well and the work was easy. Whether he’ll make it in time for the Guineas, I’m not sure. He’s carrying plenty of condition, so in the next few weeks we’ll know.
“There has to be a doubt about the Guineas, but he’s very well. I don’t think he’ll be ready in time but that’s not to say he won’t be, we’ll know in the next couple of weeks. If he doesn’t go, he’ll go to the Dante on the way to the Derby.”
The Lion In Winter was on Monday as big as 14-1 (from 6) after the news as stablemate Expanded was promoted to the head of the market. The Wootton Bassett colt landed a seven-furlong Curragh maiden in October before finishing a neck behind Shadow Of Light in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) a week later.
Twain, who had been available at 14-1 Monday morning, bolted up by six lengths at Leopardstown Oct. 19 despite being unconsidered in the market at 28-1. He reappeared eight days later in the Criterium International (G1) at Saint-Cloud, where he scored by a length-and-a-quarter under Ryan Moore.
Aidan O’Brien Hopeful Lake Victoria can Make One Thousand Guineas
Lake Victoria
O’Brien is still hopeful last season’s star juvenile filly Lake Victoria can come to hand in time for the 1,000 Guineas (G1) despite an extended break, but said stablemate Fairy Godmother is more firmly on track.
Lake Victoria produced an extraordinary juvenile campaign, winning all five of her starts including group 1s over seven furlongs, six furlongs, and a mile in the space of six weeks. The Frankel filly produced an electric late run to land the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) in September, bolted up by three lengths in the Cheveley Park (G1) and then took the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.
O’Brien reported her in fine form but said she is taking more time to come to hand compared to her stablemates, albeit he is still hopeful of her lining up for the fillies’ classic, for which she is a best-priced 10-1 chance.
“Lake Victoria is in good form and was at the Curragh last weekend,” said O’Brien. “She had a long break, longer than the others, because her year was very long. She went nice at the Curragh in an easy piece of work.
“I’m not sure she’ll make the (One Thousand) Guineas, but we’re training her for it. If she doesn’t, she’ll go to the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh the day after. Knowing her, she probably will come [good] in time because she’s that type of filly. Physically, she has done very well.”
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