O'Brien Pondering Derby Favourite High Definition's Starting Point

The Aidan O'Brien trained High Definition is the current ante-post favourite for the Epsom Derby in the upcoming flat season and the Ballydoyle handler is weighing up his options as where the three year old will run before the Classic event.

This three year old has only been seen twice to date, but was one of the most remembered winners for O'Brien on his debut last season, when landing a maiden event over a mile at The Curragh.

High Defintion was then sent into the Group Two Beresford Stakes, a race O'Brien has won 11 of the last 12 years with the likes of Capri, Japan and Saxon Warrior.

The colt was sent off as the favourite for the event and when going for home looked in big trouble being last of the pack, but he put in a superb final few furlongs to get up near the finish

It showed he was a Derby horse in the making getting better the further he went and now O'Brien is weighing up his options as where to start him off before sending him to Epsom.

(Credit ATR) O’Brien said of High Definition: “He’s a big, rangy horse with an unbelievably long stride. He’s uncomplicated and has a good mind and has done very well over the winter.

“In the Beresford it looked like he couldn’t win for most of the race as on the round track at the Curragh it’s tough to make up ground. It looked like he couldn’t win a furlong down, he had a chance half a furlong down and won very easy at the line.

“At the moment he’d probably be a shorter price to go to a Derby trial than the Guineas, but the lads (owners) will make a decision and see what they want to do.

“The Guineas is obviously a great trial for the Derby, but when we have other horses there for the Guineas, it’s very possibly that High Definition might go to a Derby trial.

“He might only have one run before the Derby if he was doing that, I think.”