Champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien is responsible for no fewer than 21 of the 107 entries published today for the Rothmans Royals Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next month. The master of Ballydoyle, who has yet to win the £100,000 Group Two contest, came closest two years ago when his Rossini finished a two-and-a-half-length second to Distant Music.
The pick of O'Brien's crop could be Johannesburg, who remains unbeaten after three outings, including the Group Three Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group Three Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh last month, when he beat stable companion and fellow-entry Wiseman's Ferry by four lengths.
Other O'Brien entries include Rock Of Gibraltar, a winner of the Group Three Railway Stakes on his latest start, Landseer, who was successful in the Group Three Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot where he just go the better of another Champagne Stakes entry, the Ian Balding-trained Firebreak, by a neck.
Last season's Champagne Stakes was won by the David Loder-trained Noverre, who has just been rated the best European miler after his success for Godolphin in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month. Loder, who returned to train in Britain at the end of last year after previously being based at Evry in France, has made 18 entries.
They include Sagitta 2000 Guineas favourite Dubai Destination, Meshaheer, who won the Group Three July Stakes, and Naheef, who was impressive when landing the Group Three Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last week.
Seven other horses who ran in that race are also entered in the September 14 contest. They are the useful Bragadino (second), Leo's Luckyman (third), Loweswater (fifth), Highdown (sixth), Redback (seventh), Where Or When (eighth), and Rafferty (10th).
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
