O’BRIEN HOPES FOR MORE FROM SISSOKO
DERBY winner Adayar is set for a mouth-watering rematch with Mishriff in tomorrow’s Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.
The pair last locked horns when Adayar came out on top after taking the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.
Since that victory Adayar finished fourth behind Torquator Tasso in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe a fortnight ago.
But after pleasing his trainer Charlie Appleby in a gallop, Adayar received the thumbs up for a 10-furlong cracker.
“Mishriff came out after Ascot and dominated the Juddmonte International at York, winning by six lengths, over the distance of Saturday’s race,” said Appleby.
Potential
“We are happy to meet him over the mile and a quarter, which is the trip where we believe Adayar’s potential lies next year.”
Despite his dominance in the past, Adayar is 7- 4 with
Mishriff topping the betting at
6- 4.
Adayar would be a big winner for the titlechasing jockey
DONNACHA O’Brien could have a Classic prospect on his hands in the shape of Curragh winner Sissoko.
The Australia colt was a sixlength winner of the Friarstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden after starting at 5-1 under Gavin Ryan, showing a good turn of foot to easy pull away from 3-1 favourite Sun King and leave the rest of the field a further five and a half lengths behind.
A debut run at the same track in September saw him finish sixth of 15 runners, but this time he seemed to have overcome that initial greenness and was professional in victory.
“We always thought a lot of him,” the trainer said. “He was actually one of my best early ones, but he just pulled a muscle and I had to leave him off until a few weeks ago.
William Buick, while Appleby hopes to add to his prospects of remaining the season’s leading trainer by running Master Of The Seas in the QEII Stakes.
“He’s pleased us since his reappearance (third) in the Joel Stakes last month,” said
Appleby about the 2,000
Guineas runner-up. “He is mentally maturing.”
Master
Stradivarius was also given the green light for another showdown with Trueshan in the Long Distance Cup.
The pair last met at Longchamp in the Prix du Cadran, where Trueshan proved the master.
Hollie Doyle, who will partner Trueshan, will team up with the Aidan O’Brien-trained La Joconde in the Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes.
Season
The winner holds an entry for the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster tomorrow week, although O’Brien feels he is likely to end his season and hold out for Derby trials next year.
“There is the Eyrefield next week and he’s still in the Vertem
Futurity Trophy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that was him finished and we bring him back for a Derby trial early next year,” he said.
“You’d be hoping he’s a Derbytype of horse with Australia putting in good stamina. But whether he’s up to that or not we’ll see.”