Sugar Island surprises O'Brien in winning Curragh start
O'Brien said: 'She was really just ready to start off. Ryan said she was green but still won nicely and he liked her.
'She'd have no problem going into a Group race over a mile and you'd like to give her another run before then.
'I thought she'd be still a maiden after this and then we could run her in another maiden. Sometimes it's easier on them when they can have two runs in maidens.
'She'll stay a mile and a quarter next year.'
O'Brien and Moore added to their tally with Light As Air in the Hong Kong Thoroughbred Breeders Alliance Irish EBF Maiden, the 1-2 favourite having last been seen finishing well down the field in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.
O'Brien said: 'We thought he was a well-handicapped horse. He was unlucky at Leopardstown and was also placed at Navan, but was a bit disappointing at Ascot last time.
'Today we thought he'd win easier than that, but we think there is more to come with him. Ryan gave him a good ride.
'We might give him a little more time now. He'd a tough race there and Ryan said the second horse kept coming with him all the way, but he didn't lie down.
'He stays well and looks like he could get further.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
21 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Henri Matisse ready to renew Field Of Gold rivalry at Goodwood
O'Brien's Wootton Bassett colt ended last season in victory at the Breeders' Cup and struck Classic gold in the French 2,000 Guineas before finding only John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold too good in the St James's Palace Stakes. The Ballydoyle handler said: 'He's being trained for the Sussex and is going good so far. We're very happy with him and he is progressing.' Also a runner-up at the Royal meeting was Illinois, in the Gold Cup behind Trawlerman, and he too is set for a trip to the Sussex Downs, where he could be joined by an emerging stablemate. O'Brien said: 'At the moment he (Illinois) is going for the Goodwood Cup and it's possible that Scandinavia could go there as well. 'We were very happy with his run in Ascot. We'd prefer he had another year before he went there (for the Gold Cup), but that is the way it worked out.' O'Brien also outlined plans for Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who will be seen next in top-level action at the Curragh. He said: 'The plan is to go for the Phoenix Stakes (August 9). That is the way we are thinking at the moment.'
Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
Henri Matisse ready to renew Field Of Gold rivalry at Goodwood
O'Brien's Wootton Bassett colt ended last season in victory at the Breeders' Cup and struck Classic gold in the French 2,000 Guineas before finding only John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold too good in the St James's Palace Stakes. The Ballydoyle handler said: 'He's being trained for the Sussex and is going good so far. We're very happy with him and he is progressing.' Also a runner-up at the Royal meeting was Illinois, in the Gold Cup behind Trawlerman, and he too is set for a trip to the Sussex Downs, where he could be joined by an emerging stablemate. O'Brien said: 'At the moment he (Illinois) is going for the Goodwood Cup and it's possible that Scandinavia could go there as well. 'We were very happy with his run in Ascot. We'd prefer he had another year before he went there (for the Gold Cup), but that is the way it worked out.' O'Brien also outlined plans for Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who will be seen next in top-level action at the Curragh. He said: 'The plan is to go for the Phoenix Stakes (August 9). That is the way we are thinking at the moment.'
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Henri Matisse ready to renew Field Of Gold rivalry at Goodwood
O'Brien's Wootton Bassett colt ended last season in victory at the Breeders' Cup and struck Classic gold in the French 2,000 Guineas before finding only John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold too good in the St James's Palace Stakes. The Ballydoyle handler said: 'He's being trained for the Sussex and is going good so far. We're very happy with him and he is progressing.' Also a runner-up at the Royal meeting was Illinois, in the Gold Cup behind Trawlerman, and he too is set for a trip to the Sussex Downs, where he could be joined by an emerging stablemate. O'Brien said: 'At the moment he (Illinois) is going for the Goodwood Cup and it's possible that Scandinavia could go there as well. 'We were very happy with his run in Ascot. We'd prefer he had another year before he went there (for the Gold Cup), but that is the way it worked out.' O'Brien also outlined plans for Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who will be seen next in top-level action at the Curragh. He said: 'The plan is to go for the Phoenix Stakes (August 9). That is the way we are thinking at the moment.'
