Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is lining up his stable stars for some big targets as he continues his quest to surpass American Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group One wins in a calendar year.
The Irishman is three short of that target and has both Roly Poly and Alluringly in the mix for Saturday’s Group One Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot at Newmarket.
Winter, Highland Reel, Order Of St George, Churchill, Caravaggio, Clemmie and Happily could turn out again before the end of the year.
The stable also has two horses – Taj Mahal and Johannes Vermeer – in quarantine in Victoria for Group One races in Melbourne and others expected to come in the second shipment of international contenders.
O’Brien told the Irish Independent sprinter Caravaggio, who had been touted for The Everest in Sydney, was likely to be retired at the end of the year.
“While we are not sure what we will run (on Saturday), it’s possible U S Navy Flag and Threeandfourpence could go there, and perhaps Seahenge,” O’Brien said.
“We have The Pentagon and Saxon Warrior, they could go for the Racing Post Trophy.
“Order Of St George ran a fine race in the Arc. We’ll look at the two-miler at Ascot.
“We’ll chat to (Coolmore’s partners) about Winter and she could go to the Champion Stakes.
“Highland Reel has options in the Champion and America. With Churchill we’re favouring him going over a mile at Ascot, but he has the chance of the Champion Stakes too.
“Likely both he and Caravaggio will be retired at the end of the season, but Caravaggio should run in the sprint at Ascot.
“I’d say September will be a middle-distance horse next season and she is in the mix for the Fillies’ Mile. The Juvenile Fillies’ race at the Breeders’ Cup could suit Happily and Clemmie and we will see about Magical.”
