Racing

Joseph O’Brien aiming Above The Curve in search for historic Group One success

Trainer looking to be first from Ireland to win Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp

Joseph O’Brien’s Above The Curve runs in Sunday's Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Joseph O’Brien’s Above The Curve runs in Sunday's Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Fri May 27 2022 - 15:54

Joseph O’Brien will pursue a slice of Group One history in Paris on Sunday with the aptly named Above The Curve.

No Irish-trained horse has ever won the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary but O’Brien has called on the services of Ryan Moore to try to fix that statistic at Longchamp.

Above The Curve and Moore are drawn on the outside of the seven fillies for the €250,000 mile and a quarter heat that is a traditional trial for next month’s French Oaks.

A dozen have completed the double since the Alary was first run in 1960, including the English-trained Laurens in 2018.

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Charlie Appleby’s Sobetsu won it the year before that and the Godolphin trainer relies on Wild Beauty this time. The only other overseas based Alary winner was Indian Skimmer in 1987.

Above The Curve is rated a 9-4 second favourite with some firms behind the Newmarket Guineas runner-up Prosperous Voyage, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, in a race due off at 2.45 Irish-time and is shown live on Sky.

Moore was on one of Ballydoyle’s Epsom hopes, Thoughts Of June, when getting the better of Above The Curve in the Cheshire Oaks earlier this month.

O’Brien is no stranger to breaking records as the youngest ever trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, as well as the youngest ever to win at the Breeders’ Cup as both a trainer and a jockey.

It’s almost a decade too since the 29-year-old was part of history at Epsom, when he and Aidan O’Brien were the first father and son team to land the Derby.

The build-up to next Saturday week’s ‘Blue Riband’ continues with confirmation that Godolphin plan to supplement a third runner into the race in Nations Pride.

The Teofilo colt has run five times in his career and Charlie Appleby said on Friday: “On Derby day there’s a huge crowd, the fanfare of it all. I feel you have to have experience to take into it, cantering a mile and a half down to the start as well.

“There’s a lot of challenges for a three-year-old early in his career and the more experience is beneficial, which is what he brings to the table.”

Nations Pride was quickly cut to 6-1 third favourite with some firms behind the market leader Desert Crown and Aidan O’Brien’s apparent No 1 hope, Stone Age.

Godolphin also plan to run Walk Of Stars and Nahanni.

Piz Badile has had just the three runs but will have Dettori’s vast Epsom experience on his side when Donnacha O’Brien bids to join his father and brother on the Derby roll of honour next week.

The youngest O’Brien has a trio of entries at this weekend’s sole Flat fixture in Ireland at Navan and will be looking for a timely form boost in advance of Piz Badile’s shot at Classic glory

Up to Friday evening’s action O’Brien hadn’t saddled a winner since the start of last month.

Perhaps his best chance at Navan will be the two-year-old Wodao who has been tangling with The Antarctic on his last two starts. The latter’s stable companion Age Of Kings looks a tough opponent this time.

Before heading to Paris, Moore will be at Navan for four Ballydoyle rides, including Age Of Kings and Tenebrism’s half-sister Statuette who makes her debut in the opener.

She faces a formidable task, however, against Olivia Maraldo, the €450,000 filly part-owned by the Brazilian international footballer Philippe Coutinho.

Olivia Maralda made her debut only last Sunday when finding Zarinsk a neck too good at the Curragh.

Grecian Slipper has her second career start in a mile and a quarter fillies’ maiden where significant improvement from her Gowran debut last month can be anticipated.

She has just over a length to make up on Paris Peacock on that form but did a lot wrong and entries in next week’s King George V Cup at Leopardstown, as well as the Munster Oaks, suggest maiden success at least is anticipated for her.

The rest of the weekend action is concentrated over jumps at Punchestown where Joseph O’Brien also has a runner in Saturday’s opening handicap chase.

Embittered is likely to be a leading player although ground conditions may suit Zarkareva more.