The Newmarket and Epsom Classics may be in the books for another year, but the 2024 flat campaign continues apace, with a host of top-quality contests looming on the horizon.
Given his record in British and Irish Group 1’s in the current century, long-term predictions for the premier summer events often centre around the yard of Aidan O’Brien. In many seasons, the path of his leading contenders appears clear in advance, with those who ran in the Guineas often going on to the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Epsom runners regularly taking in the Irish Derby. However, 2024 has presented a slightly murkier picture, with many of the big Ballydoyle names appearing to have a multitude of plausible options.
Thankfully, we now have a better idea of O’Brien and “the lads” plans for three of the biggest names currently residing at the all-conquering County Tipperary yard.
City of Troy to Eclipse Rivals at Sandown
First up, the most hyped horse heading into the current season, City Of Troy. Labelled as potentially being the next Frankel following a flawless juvenile season, this son of Justify fluffed his lines in the Guineas, only to confirm that he is, in fact, the real deal with a sensational display to land the Derby.
The Irish Derby was perhaps the most obvious next port of call for this son of Justify, but the plan is to drop back to 1m2f and tackle his elders in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on the 6th of July. Sir Michael Stoute’s Passenger and recent Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch are amongst those who may lie in wait, but O’Brien’s latest star is odds on across the board to follow up his Epsom heroics.
Irish Derby Next for Los Angeles
With City Of Troy heading to Sandown, Ballydoyle’s Irish Derby challenge will be spearheaded by the horse who finished two places behind him at Epsom. That defeat brought the unbeaten run of Los Angeles to an end, but still rated a fine performance – particularly as he became uncharacteristically upset in the preliminaries.
Initially installed as the clear favourite for the Curragh showpiece, Los Angeles now sits second in the market following the news that Ambiente Friendly is also being targeted at the race – a fascinating rematch awaits.
Royal Challenge for Auguste Rodin
Last but not least, one of the most entertaining horses from 2023, the by turns brilliant and puzzling Auguste Rodin. Awful in the Guineas, excellent in the English and Irish Derbies, atrocious in the King George, and back to brilliant again in the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf, you were never sure what you would get from this son of Deep Impact.
So far, 2024 has added to that legacy. Making his seasonal return in the Dubai Sheema Classic and sent off as the warm 11/8F, Auguste Rodin promptly finished last. Next time out in the Tattersalls Gold Cup was a bit more like it, but a second-placed effort to White Birch – a horse he comfortably beat at Epsom last season – was still some way below his best.
The next unmissable episode of the Auguste Rodin show is set to come at Royal Ascot, with O’Brien confirming the Day 2 feature of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes as his intended target.
