Coolmore’s star colt Storm Boy is poised to make his much-anticipated international debut at Ireland’s famous The Curragh next week.
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has nominated the Australian-bred speedster for the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes on May 24 as a key lead-up to a Royal Ascot assault, where the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes awaits next month.
This is the same path O’Brien charted for former Aussie sprinter Merchant Navy, who famously captured both the Greenlands and Queen Elizabeth Jubilee during a dazzling 2018 campaign.
“We have entered Storm Boy for the Greenlands Stakes,’’ confirmed Tom Magnier, Coolmore Australia’s boss.
“It’s going to be a surprisingly good field, there are a lot of top sprinters entered for that race.
“But I know Aidan is very happy with Storm Boy and the plan is to run him at The Curragh next week.”
Previously trained in Australia by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Storm Boy won five of his ten local starts, including the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the Group 2 Skyline Stakes, and the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes, collecting over $3.5 million in prizemoney.
Coolmore acquired the colt for a reported figure near $20 million just before last year’s Golden Slipper, where he finished third to his stablemate Lady Of Camelot.
Storm Boy was later exported to Ireland following his eighth-place finish in the The Everest behind Bella Nipotina last October.
Since arriving at O’Brien’s renowned Ballydoyle operation, Storm Boy has reportedly flourished. With jockey Ryan Moore confirmed to take the reins in the Greenlands, Coolmore is optimistic about what lies ahead.
“Aidan is having an unbelievable start to the season, his horses are flying, and he has said Storm Boy is in a really good place,’’ Magnier said.
“Ryan Moore will ride Storm Boy next week and we are going to learn a lot on the day. We are hoping to get the horse to Royal Ascot but we will see what happens in the Greenlands.”
For punters interested in following Storm Boy’s European campaign, check out the latest odds and offers from top betting sites ahead of his Group-level return.
