O’BRIEN SETS SIGHTS HIGH
Fit-again Definition ready to re-stake his Derby claim
HIGH DEFINITION will bid to get his Cazoo Derby challenge back on track against 10 opponents in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes atYork tomorrow.
Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten son of Galileo, who went into winter quarters as the 3-1 favourite for Epsom on June 5, was forced to miss his intended return in the Derby Trial at Lingfield last Saturday by an unsatisfactory blood sample.
“His blood was much better yesterday and there was another blood done this morning, so we’re hoping that will be 100 per cent this evening,” O’Brien, right, said yesterday. “The plan was to go to Lingfield, and we were lucky that we had the Dante to run him in.
“His work regime was interrupted but we have to start somewhere.”
High Definition, Paddy Power’s 9-2 second choice for the Derby, is the firm’s 9-4 favourite for tomorrow’s Group Two test.
O’Brien, whose Bolshoi Ballet was slashed to 7-4 for Epsom on the back of a sixlength margin in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, added of High Definition:
“We’ll get him started and see where we’re going.
“The plan was always to give him one run before the Derby – obviously, he couldn’t run in the Derby unless he had a run.
“What we’re trying to do is get a run into him and see whether he will be ready to run in the Derby or not.”
For today’s card, Tim Easterby claims Art Power will return to the fray in top form for the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes. The son of Dark Angel, owned by King Power Racing, enjoyed a successful three-yearold campaign that develop into a contender for honours.
After completing a hat-trick in convincing fashion in the Group Three Lacken Stakes at Naas in July, Art Power contested Group One company for his last three races.
He had his baptism at the top level in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, where he was sixth to Battaash over the minimum trip, and was fourth in both the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot in the autumn.
“He looks great, he’s in good form and is working well,” said the Great Habton handler. saw him serious sprinting