Some of Aidan O'Brien's stars, including Brian Boru, High Chaparral and Hawk Wing, were on show at the Curragh on Sunday as the Ballydoyle trainer gave them a spin after racing.
'The idea was that they'd all go a mile which should just get a nice blow into them which should give us an idea where we go with each of them, O'Brien said. The idea with Brian Boru was just to give him a nice exercise without stretching him.
Brian Boru, ante-post favourite for the Vodafone Derby, worked with three others and he moved well on the near side from the back to join them close home without Michael Kinane letting go of his head. The Racing Post Trophy winner is now set to head for Leopardstown next month, a route taken by O'Brien's Derby winners Galileo and High Chaparral.
After watching the work O'Brien said: We'd be looking at the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown for Brian Boru. Brian Boru is Ladbrokes' 5-1 favourite for the Epsom Classic.
Kinane rode Alberto Giacometti in the next group and again sat last of the five on the unbeaten colt and joined in late to finish third, running on strongly just behind The Great Gatsby and Warhol without being asked a serious question. O'Brien declared himself happy with the two pieces of work. 'Hawk Wing, ridden by Seamus Heffernan, worked with Sahara Desert and the Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes victor came up smoothly to join the lead horse, after which the trainer said: Seamus was very excited about him. This horse gives you some feel and he has come on nicely since last season.'
It was High Chaparral's turn next as he tracked his lead horse Ice Dancer in the hands of Kinane in a slightly stronger piece of exercise and last season's dual Derby winner appeared on good terms with himself after being asked to do a little bit more than Hawk Wing.
O'Brien said: 'Michael was happy with High Chaparral. He's gone very strong over the winter but he's showing a lot of pace too and Michael said we wouldn't be worried about dropping him back to a mile. We would be looking at the Lockinge at Newbury and the Tattersalls Gold Cup for High Chaparral and Hawk Wing. Hawk Wing would need good ground and that would determine where he would go while High Chaparral would handle an ease better but he has developed a nice bit of speed. '
Milan, successful in the 2001 St Leger but out of action for most of last season after fracturing his off-shore cannon bone on his reappearance, is back cantering and O'Brien said: 'We'll try and keep him in one piece for the second half of the season.'
Filed by James McMahon
