O’Brien leads charge

Irish doyen has trio ready for Schillaci

AIDAN O’Brien will temporarily shelve his reputation as master staying trainer by launching a three-pronged attack on the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Famed for successful sorties into almost every major racing jurisdiction with seasoned middle distance horses, the Irish doyen is not as renowned for his feats with sprinters simply because he handles far more stayers.

His Australian acquisition Merchant Navy proved how adaptable O’Brien is at Royal Ascot in June and stable representative TJ Comerford hopes his boss can show his versatility at Caulfield.

Fleet Review, Spirit Of Valour and Intelligence Cross are all by War Front — the same sire as O’Brien’s Everest entrant US Navy Flag — and Comerford says little separates the trio.

“I suppose Fleet Review and Spirit Of Valour are the best of the three and Intelligence Cross is just behind them,” he said.

“But you never know with these War Fronts. They can be so much different on race day.

“What you see out on the track and what they do in training and race day can be totally different.

“Spirit Of Valour’s form is good but Fleet Review is probably just a bit better but I would not like to pick between the two of them because they’d probably make a liar out of me.

“Coming here, they’ve thrived, there’s a spring in their step and they’re in good form.

“They’ll like it (Schillaci) good and quick.

“It’s a bit different for us, bringing sprinters here. We’re used to you bringing sprinters up to (England) and winning for them and we’re trying to do the same here.

“It would be a great achievement if they won.

“We’re not renowned for sprinters, but I don’t think we could have them any better.”

O’Brien will also start The Cliffsofmoher in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), hopeful of emulating Johannes Vermeer’s 2017 pathway.

Johannes Vermeer ran second in the Caulfield Stakes, third in the Caulfield Cup and then second to Rekindling in the Melbourne Cup.

“He’s very forward and he’s in good order. He’s training well and his condition is good,” Comerford said. “We’re very pleased with him. He’s a top of the ground horse.

“His plan will be similar to what we did with Johannes Vermeer last year.”

Yucatan, which like The Cliffsofmoher is owned by Lloyd Williams, will run in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

O’Brien’s quintet is among a record 11 international runners at the Caulfield Guineas meeting.

Charlie Appleby has three contenders — Jungle Cat (Toorak Handicap), Blair House (Caulfield Stakes) and Comicas ( Weekend Hussler Stakes).

Saeed bin Suroor will start Benbatl in the Caulfield Stakes and Prize Money in Herbert Power, where he will clash with Charlie Fellowes’ Prince Of Arran.