AIDAN O'BRIEN has nominated Rip Van Winkle as a potential superstar for 2009, describing the Classic contender as a "very special horse".
The champion trainer remains unconcerned by Rip Van Winkle's defeat in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and said: "He had his three races as a two- year-old in a season that went on a bit long for him. We still think he is very special."
O'Brien was speaking after receiving an award at Saturday night's Moyglare Stud dinner at The K-Club when the Turf Club marked his momentous 2008 campaign which yielded 23 Group One victories.
He also paid tribute to stable jockey Johnny Murtagh and to Ballydoyle's number two Séamus Heffernan whose four Group One wins last season included a success on David Wachman's Again in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
At the dinner the Turf Club's senior steward, Nick Wachman, emphasised the organisation's resolve in completing the often controversial €100 million redevelopment of the Curragh racecourse.
The project was "put on hold" last month when the Turf Club decided that progressing with the racetrack face-lift was not practical given the current economic downturn which has seen cuts in government funding to racing.
"It will happen, when economic conditions are suitable," Wachman stressed.
In other Flat racing news, Lush Lashes has arrived in Hong Kong ahead of this Sunday's Cup event at Sha Tin racecourse.
Jim Bolger's triple Group One winner is attempting to emulate her former stable companion Alexander Goldrun who won the prestigious mile-and-a-quarter race in 2004.
"She arrived there a few days ago and has settled in nicely. She had a knock on the leg in the stalls racing in France (Prix de l'Opera) and it took about a month to clear up but she seems as good as ever now," Bolger said yesterday.
"There's no need to make a decision on whether she stays in training or not just yet. Let's get this race out of the way and then we will decide," he added.
Lush Lashes won both the Coronation Stakes and the Matron Stakes over a mile this year as well as the Yorkshire Oaks over a mile and a half. She was also an unlucky loser over the 10-furlong trip behind Halfway To Heaven in the Nassau Stakes.
