The Aidan O’Brien-trained Caravaggio, a clear second favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, will either head to Newmarket without a prep run or go to France and run in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.
Connections initially looked keen to head to Dundalk on the All-Weather for the Listed Patton Stakes but have now changed their minds.
Unbeaten in four career starts, the son of Scat Daddy was successful at Dundalk on his debut in April before stepping up to pattern company with aplomb in May when landing a Listed event at the Curragh.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge followed that up with a two and a quarter-length victory at Royal Ascot in the Group Two Coventry Stakes, his first start over six furlongs.
The US-bred gelding’s season culminated with a decisive four length success in the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in Augus, slamming his rivals by displaying his now renowned electric turn of foot and in the process justifying odds of 1/8.
O’Brien’s charge suffered a slight injury, a pulled muscle, as he was being prepared for Newmarket’s Group One Middle Park States that prevented him running again, but the Ballydoyle handler is looking forward to getting the three-year-old back on the track next month.
O’Brien worked around 80 of his string at Naas on Monday and said of Caravaggio:
He’s never raced beyond six furlongs so before asking him to go to a mile, we’re looking at running him in he Listed Patton Stakes over seven furlongs at Dundalk and see how things go. He had a very minor hold-up after winning the Phoenix Stakes and we just ran out of time with him.
The Ballydoyle maestro also provided an update on Europe’s champion two-year-old of 2016, Churchill, who was an impressive winner of the Dewhurst at Newmarket on his last start. The imposing colt is 6/4 favourite for the 2000 Guineas and also features prominently in betting markets for the Derby.
He also worked at Naas on Monday with the trainer adding:
Churchill’s a fine big, powerful colt and we rate him very highly. We haven’t thought beyond the Guineas and we’ll see how he gets on at Newmarket before thinking further down the line. We’re very happy with Churchill and the plan is to send him straight to Newmarket once everything goes well over the next few weeks.
