Leading flat trainer Aidan O'Brien could be set to send three runners into the Group One Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, with the Ballydoyle maestro looking to land the event for the sixth time.
O’Brien has Lope Y Fernandez, Order Of Australia and Battleground pencilled in as a potential runners in this year’s renewal, with him explaining that all of them have their equal chances if running to the best of their abilities.
Lope Y Fernandez looks to be the stand out runner for the yard with Palace Pier now missing the race and he was last seen chasing him home at Royal Ascot in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes.
However, Order Of Australia is not to be discounted having proven Group One form at this trip when landing the Breeders’ Cup Mile last term and he managed to bounce back to form last time out when winning the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh last weekend.
(Credit ATR) O’Brien said: “Order Of Australia has come out of the race (on Sunday) well. He cantered today and yesterday and he’s very well.
🇦🇺 Order is restored at the @curraghrace
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 18, 2021
🏆 G1 Breeders' Cup Mile
🏆 G2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes
A fine front-running performance from Order Of Australia who returns to winning ways for team @Ballydoyle & Ryan Moore in good style pic.twitter.com/WHbtlmV992
“It’s very possible that he could go. Obviously when he only ran at the weekend, we’d like to get him back in full work for four or five days and do the right thing for the horse.
“We’re looking forward to Lope Y Fernandez. We have the choice of running here or going to the Lennox Stakes, but at the moment we’re thinking of the Sussex. He worked this morning and we were very happy with him.”
Battleground is the final potential challenger for O'Brien who hasn't quite performed to the ability he showed as a two year old but having won the Vintage Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival last summer, his handler is hoping getting back to this track will spark a revival.
He added: “He ran a very big race in Ascot. He was a little bit disappointing the last day, but he was drawn out on a wing and he’s a horse that likes to get cover.
“We’ve been very happy with him since and we think Goodwood will suit him – we think he’ll leave that run behind him and come right back to his Ascot run and better.“It’s very possible that he could go to the Sussex as well.”