O’Brien monitoring ‘quiet’ Gstaad ahead of Phoenix showdown

Aidan O’Brien has offered a note of caution about the possibility of a second clash between Gstaad and stablemate True Love in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

First time around at Navan in May, Gstaad got going late to catch the filly True Love, who had already had the benefit of a previous run.

The pair then went to Royal Ascot where Gstaad won the Coventry Stakes and True Love broke her maiden in the Queen Mary.

Since then True Love has beaten the boys in the Railway Stakes by five lengths and actually brings a higher official rating than Gstaad, who has not run since Ascot.

The colt, who is the choice of Ryan Moore, has given O’Brien a slight cause for concern on Friday but the handler hopes it is nothing too serious.

“They’ve met before obviously and the filly has that little bit more experience than the colt,” said O’Brien.

“She’s had an extra run since Ascot, so it’s going to be interesting.

“The filly has a higher rating which is interesting but Gstaad was very good at Ascot.

“It has always been the plan for him to run at Ascot, have a little break and then go to the Curragh with him.

“Everything has been fine with both of them since, the filly hasn’t done much since she ran the other week.

“Gstaad has been working well but he was just a little bit quiet this morning. I don’t think it was anything serious – all his work has gone well but he was just a little quiet so hopefully he’ll be OK.”

O’Brien also runs Puerto Rico, second to True Love in the Railway and to Coppull in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

O’Brien’s son Joseph fields the main danger in Green Sense, winner of the Prix Robert Papin last time out and a late absentee from the Ballyhane Stakes on Monday.

He said: “We’re happy with her off the back of a good run.

“It looks a strong renewal of the race, obviously, if dad’s two turn up.

“We’re hoping for a good run from her, and it would be great if she could get Group One-placed.”

Power Blue has not dodged anyone all season finishing fifth in the Coventry and third in the Railway, so Adrian Murray’s colt faces a tall order in his bid to give the yard a second win in the race in three years.

Murray said: “This looks a tough race for Power Blue, but he’s been running well in all the big races and he’s danced all the dances.

“He’s in great form so we’ll let him take his chance. We’ll see if Aidan runs both his big guns, you never know.

“We won this with Bucanero Fuerte two years ago and he would have the edge at the same stage. Power Blue is a very nice horse, but Bucanero just always had that touch of class, he’s a Group One winner.”

Power Blue is owned by Amo Racing as is the final runner in the field, David Loughnane’s Do Bronxs.