Racing

Aidan O’Brien wary of soft ground for Epsom Derby favourite Australia

Trainer could also saddle Geoffrey Chaucer, Kingfisher and Orchestra for classic

Australia (centre) finishes third behind Night of Thunder (left) in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images.
Australia (centre) finishes third behind Night of Thunder (left) in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images.
Thu May 29 2014 - 22:40

Aidan O'Brien is wary about the prospect of soft ground at Epsom tomorrow week for Investec Derby favourite Australia. The Galileo colt has been all the rage for the premier Classic since his close-up third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3rd.

However, Australia has not yet been tested in demanding conditions, with his trainer hoping the recent wet spell quickly recedes. O’Brien said: “We wouldn’t like the ground to be soft.

“He’s a beautiful moving horse, everybody saw the class he showed at Newmarket. Obviously soft ground wouldn’t be ideal, but we’ll have to wait and see and hope it’s not.”

O’Brien confirmed at the ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ morning at the Surrey venue yesterday that Australia may be accompanied by Geoffrey Chaucer, Kingfisher and Orchestra.

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Joseph O’Brien, the trainer’s son, is set to partner Australia, while Ryan Moore, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas last weekend aboard the stable’s Marvellous, is poised to get the leg-up on Geoffrey Chaucer.

The latter has this week been well backed in the Derby market after rumours circulated of the colt having beaten Australia in a gallop at Ballydoyle.

‘Different races’

O’Brien said: “I don’t know where these (rumours) come from. They have obviously always been on different work regimes and both had different races last time.

“I don’t know where it came from. I didn’t see it if it was, maybe it happened, but I didn’t see it.”

Frankie Dettori admitted at Epsom yesterday that he was on the lookout for a ride in the Derby. When asked if he would consider the Italian, O'Brien said: "It would be very hard to get any better than Frankie. Everyone knows how good he is, he's a special man."

Shamkala is more likely to remain on home soil than travel from France to contest the Investec Oaks at Epsom next Friday. The Sea The Stars filly, trained in Chantilly by Alain de Royer-Dupre andowned by the Aga Khan, will instead run in the French equivalent at Chantilly a fortnight later.

Aidan O’Brien could have up to five runners in the Oaks, staged this year in memory of Henry Cecil.

Ballydoyle’s battalion will be spearheaded by Marvellous, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh last Sunday.

Stablemate Bracelet was well beaten in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month but she, too, could feature. O’Brien said: “Bracelet is a possible. There’s also Tapestry, Marvellous and I suppose the filly (Dazzling) that ran in the trial in Navan.