O’BRIEN’S CAR HITS TOP GEAR
O’Brien hails his brilliant Cup winner Caravaggio
AIDAN O’BRIEN lauded Caravaggio as “the fastest horse we’ve ever had” after the brilliant colt defended his perfect record in the Commonwealth Cup.
Ryan Moore’s mount, the winner of his five previous starts, including the Coventry Stakes at the royal meeting in 2016, turned on the after-burners to catch Godolphin rival Harry Angel and score by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s absolutely brilliant – he’s the fastest horse we’ve ever had,” said O’Brien of the 5-6 winner.
“He is very quick – his change of pace is unbelievable. I’d be happier at two furlongs than six furlongs with this fella!” added the master of Ballydoyle (below), who will prepare Caravaggio for next month’s July Cup at Newmarket before a possible trip to Australia for the Group 1 Everest at Randwick in October. O’Brien landed his third Group 1 prize of the meeting when Winter and Moore led home stablemates Roly Poly and Hydrangea in the Coronation Stakes. Winter was racking up a top-level hat-trick after triumphs in the Newmarket and Curragh 1,000 Guineas, and Moore said: “She’s got a lot of class and she’s come a long way in a short space of time.” Permian bounced back from a disappointing 10th in the Derby to lift the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes under Will Buick.