We bring you the latest quotes from champion trainer Aidan O'Brien ahead of Royal Ascot 2023
This year's Royal Meeting kicks off on Tuesday 20th June
Luxembourg, Emily Dickinson and Little Big Bear feature in O'Brien's Ascot squad
Aidan O'Brien poses during Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse. (Getty)
Contents
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day One Runners
Paddington - St James's Palace Stakes
River Tiber - Coventry Stakes
Bolshoi Ballet - Wolferton Stakes
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Two Runners
Luxembourg - Prince of Wales's Stakes
Gooloogong - Queen's Vase
Peking Opera - Queen's Vase
Johannes Brahms - Windsor Castle Stakes
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Three Runners
Broome - Gold Cup
Emily Dickinson - Gold Cup
His Majesty - Norfolk Stakes
Drumroll - Hampton Court Stakes
Be Happy - Ribblesdale Stakes
Carracci - Britannia Stakes
Bertinelli - King George V Stakes
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Four Runners
Little Big Bear - Commonwealth Cup
Meditate - Coronation Stakes
Matrika - Albany Stakes
Pearls And Rubies - Albany Stakes or Chesham Stakes
Continuous - King Edward VII Stakes
Tower Of London - King Edward VII Stakes
Hispanic - Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes
Jackie Oh - Sandringham Stakes
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Five Runners
Point Lonsdale - Hardwicke Stakes
Changingoftheguard - Hardwicke Stakes
The Antarctic - Jersey Stakes
Age Of Kings - Jersey Stakes
Londoner - Golden Gates Stakes
Aidan O'Brien has been the dominant force in flat racing over recent seasons. Ireland's Champion Trainer has enjoyed plenty of success at Royal Ascot too, with his tally of 81 winners bettered only by Sir Michael Stoute.
Here are key quotes from Ireland's Top Trainer as he guides the Racing Post through his team for Royal Ascot.
*All quotes attributed to the Racing Post*
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day One Runners
Paddington - St James's Palace Stakes
His progression has been gentle. He went from a handicap to a Listed race and then we stepped him up for the Guineas. He ran on different ground there to anything he had encountered before and handled it well. He seems to have come out of the race well and everything has gone according to plan with him since the Curragh.
River Tiber - Coventry Stakes
He looks the one for the Coventry. We've been very happy with what he's done so far. We were delighted we ran him at Naas because he was still inexperienced and was green in the middle part of the race. He was going away at the line and we think he would have learned a lot from that.
Bolshoi Ballet - Wolferton Stakes
He qualifies for the Wolferton and that's the race we're looking at for him. He ran well at Newbury and we've been happy with him since. He's a good horse on his day.
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Two Runners
Luxembourg - Prince of Wales's Stakes
You can put him anywhere in a race and he doesn't seem to mind – that's what we learned most from his win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He doesn't have to make it but he's happy if he has to. Everything has gone well since the Curragh and, while he's never run at Ascot before, I think it will suit him. It's right-handed like the Curragh and I see no reason why he won't take to it.
Gooloogong - Queen's Vase
He's a nice colt who came forward nicely from his only run at two to win at Navan in March. We're thinking about the Queen's Vase for him but nothing is set in stone yet.
Peking Opera - Queen's Vase
He won a Listed race at Navan last time and stays well. He came out of that in good order and the Queen's Vase is definitely a possibility for him.
Johannes Brahms - Windsor Castle Stakes
He did well to get back up at Naas as he was green, got headed and then came back again to win. He's a nice colt who should come forward from that.
Ryan Moore riding Luxembourg (blue/maroon) win The Irish Champion Stakes from Stephane Pasquier riding Onesto (white) at Leopardstown. (Getty)
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Three Runners
Broome - Gold Cup
It will be interesting to see what he can do in an Ascot Gold Cup. He's never been beyond two miles but he relaxes very well in his races, so he'll give himself every chance of getting the trip.
Emily Dickinson - Gold Cup
Everything has gone real well since Leopardstown. There was no pace in that race and she was left in front, which wasn't ideal at all. We didn't want her to have a hard race by forcing her along, so it just didn't happen for her. It was one of those things. She came out of the race great, which was the main thing. She needs an even tempo the whole way, where it doesn't turn into a sprint. We think she stays very well and we're excited to see what she might be able to do in the Gold Cup over a trip like that.
His Majesty - Norfolk Stakes
He won first time out at the Curragh and wasn't beaten far in the Marble Hill. The Norfolk is the race we're looking at for him and he could show up in that.
Drumroll - Hampton Court Stakes
He's progressing nicely and, although he'd carry a penalty in the Hampton Court, we think that might he the right sort of race for him.
Be Happy - Ribblesdale Stakes
She didn't run in the Oaks and it's possible she'll be our only runner in the Ribblesdale. We've always liked her and we were delighted with her run in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield. That was switched to the all-weather, which wasn't ideal, but she seems to be coming along lovely.
Carracci - Britannia Stakes
He won his maiden at Dundalk last year and didn't get the clearest of runs last time in a handicap at the Curragh on Guineas weekend. It's possible that he could step up to a mile and go for the Britannia.
Bertinelli - King George V Stakes
We were delighted with him in the London Gold Cup at Newbury. He stayed on well there and we have pencilled him in for the King George V.
Meditate ridden by Ryan Moore wins The Albany Stakes on day four of Royal Ascot 2022. (Getty)
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Four Runners
Little Big Bear - Commonwealth Cup
He's good. The Guineas was a non-event for him, as it was for Auguste Rodin, and we knew we had to get a run into him in a sprint before going to the Commonwealth Cup – we didn't want to go straight from the Guineas over a mile on soft ground to the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs. Frankie [Dettori] was over the moon with him at Haydock. He said he was still lacking a bit of confidence and you'd know what happened to him at Newmarket from riding him. He said he coasted along with him and guided him through it. We felt we had to give him a chance over a mile but he always looked like a big, powerful sprinter.
Meditate - Coronation Stakes
We think she's still coming forward. She had a bit of a hold-up in the spring, so we knew she would take a step forward from Newmarket to the Curragh. She did that and we think she can take another step forward again at Ascot. The plan is the Coronation Stakes and she's done everything nicely at home over the last few weeks.
Matrika - Albany Stakes
She's a lovely No Nay Never filly who picked up nicely to win at the Curragh and the Albany looks a nice race for her. She seems very well.
Pearls And Rubies - Albany Stakes or Chesham Stakes
She has the option of the Albany or the Chesham and no final decision has been made yet. The Chesham is a possibility. We knew we had to run her at Navan the other day if she was going to run at Ascot. We've always thought she was very smart and she needed the experience badly. Ryan (Moore) left her alone early and educated her. She's lovely.
Continuous - King Edward VII Stakes
We're contemplating the King Edward VII for him. He ran really well in the Dante and we were delighted with him there, but things didn't go according to plan in the French Derby for one reason or another. We think he's better than that.
Tower Of London - King Edward VII Stakes
We were thrilled with him at Leopardstown because they went a very slow pace and that certainly wouldn't have suited him. It was great to get his head back in front and he's a colt we've always liked.
Hispanic - Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes
He's a quick colt who won his maiden nicely at the Curragh last autumn. We think he'll take a nice step forward from his comeback at York and the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a sprint that we think might suit him.
Jackie Oh - Sandringham Stakes
She ran well enough in the Irish Guineas and we're thinking about the Sandringham for her. She's coming along nicely.
Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot 2023 Stable Tour - Day Five Runners
Point Lonsdale - Hardwicke Stakes
We don't think he was at his best at Epsom in the Coronation Cup. The way it panned out he was sort of left there by himself in front and it didn't really suit him. The plan since Epsom has been the Hardwicke and he seems very well.
Changingoftheguard - Hardwicke Stakes
He won at the meeting last year and it's possible he'll join Point Lonsdale in the Hardwicke. He should come forward nicely from his return at Chester.
The Antarctic - Jersey Stakes
He's never been beyond six furlongs, but we're giving strong consideration to the Jersey and it'll be interesting to see how he gets on over that trip.
Age Of Kings - Jersey Stakes
It's possible that he could go to the Jersey, although it's not certain yet. We think he'll come on a lot for his return in the Irish Guineas.
Londoner - Golden Gates Stakes
He ran okay in a Derby trial at Leopardstown and could run in the Golden Gates on the final day. He seems well in himself at home.
Verdict
Aidan O'Brien's Royal Ascot 2023 runners:
1: Paddington 2023 St James's Palace Stakes @2/1 at bet365 - 10 Units
2: Luxembourg 2023 Prince Of Wales's Stakes @2/1 at Hollywood bets - 10 Units
3: Emily Dickinson 2023 Ascot Gold Cup @6/1 at Star Sports - 10 Units
4: Little Big Bear 2023 Commonwealth Cup @13/8 at bet365 - 10 Units
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