TODAY’S THE DAY when the talking stops and we finally get to see what Australia, Aidan O’Brien’s star three-year-old, has to offer among elite company.
It seems strange to use the word “star” at this point, not least when talking about a horse who has only raced three times, losing one, and has just a solitary Group 3 win as the best bit of form in the book.
But such is the buzz, hype and — dare we say — optimism surrounding the son of Derby winner Galileo and Oaks winner Ouija Board. If races were won on breeding alone, you could close betting on the Triple Crown right now.
“We always thought he was the best horse we’ve ever had,” O’Brien said after his six-length win at Leopardstown last September, a quote that has reverberated throughout the spring in anticipation of the first classic of the flat season, today’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
I don’t want to be blowing up the horse but he was always doing things no two-year-old has ever done before.
When that quote was put to O’Brien again earlier this year, he didn’t shy away but stressed: “He has to go and do it now.”
If and when he does, you can be sure that the 3/1 widely available today with a bookmakers will be a once-off. Joseph O’Brien takes the ride with Ryan Moore on the yard’s other runner War Command, winner of the Dewhurst Stakes last season.
If Australia carries the weight of expectation there is just as much talk about Kingman who carries the Frankel colours as he bids to emulate Khalid Abdullah’s racing phenomenon.
The 6/4 favourite warmed up for with success in Newbury’s Greenham Stakes, taking his record to three from three, and trainer John Gosden is unfazed about the step up in trip to one mile.
“He has a high cruising speed and is very relaxed and I think he will get the mile no problem but I don’t think he would go much after that,” he said this week.
“I think it is a really good Guineas,” he added. ”It is an exciting race with a lot of depth.
“Australia is being talked about as being head and shoulders above the rest at Ballydoyle, while I like the Craven winner Toormore.
I think he is one of those tough horses that will see the mile out and if you go by him you know you will have had a race.
Richard Hannon Jr, in his first season as a trainer after taking over his father’s stable, believes Toormore has “a massive” chance.
“He has never been a flashy horse and we were delighted with him at Newmarket,” he told the Telegraph.
“He’ll run a massive race in the Guineas. Ours need their first run and he can improve five or six pounds for it.”
– Additional reporting by AFP
