O’Brien Issues Ground Concerns

O’BRIEN ISSUES GROUND CONCERNS 
Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of G1 Investec Derby favorite Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), admitted at Epsom Downs’ Breakfast with the Stars yesterday that he hoped to see a recent wet spell subside and the Surrey course dry up for Europe’s premier Classic June 7. 
“We wouldn’t like the ground to be soft,” O’Brien said. “He’s a beautiful-moving horse, everybody saw the class he showed at Newmarket [finishing third in the G1 1000 Guineas May 3]. Obviously soft ground wouldn’t be ideal, but we’ll have to wait and see and hope it’s not.” 
O’Brien noted that Australia may be joined in the Derby by Ballydoyle stablemates Geoffrey Chaucer (Montjeu {Ire}), Kingfisher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and 
Orchestra (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Geoffrey Chaucer, last year’s G2 Beresford S. winner and a most recent third in the G3 Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown May 11, has been the subject of strong market support recently after it was rumored he had beaten Australia is a workout at Ballydoyle. O’Brien was quick to quash the rumors. 
“I don’t know where these [rumours] come from,” he said. “They have obviously always been on different work regimes and both had different races last time. I don’t know where it came from. I didn’t see it if it was–maybe it happened, but I didn’t see it.” 
Joseph O’Brien is set to partner Australia, with Ryan Moore on Geoffrey Chaucer. Jockey Frankie Dettori, who won the 2007 Derby on Authorized (Ire), admitted at yesterday’s event that he is still in search of a ride, and when asked about the possibility of using the champion rider, O’Brien said: “It would be very hard to get any better than Frankie. Everyone knows how good he is, he’s a special man.” 
One who looks set to withdraw if the going comes up soft at Epsom is the improving Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who carried the Qatar Racing silks to a second place finish in the G2 Dante S. at York May 15 in his third start. 
“He needs good ground. Good to soft maybe, but not worse,” said Sheikh Fahad. Those sentiments were echoed by stable jockey Jamie Spencer. 
“He’s a high-class horse and is lightly raced,” Spencer said. “He needs fast ground, so watch this space.” 
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute was unfazed by the prospect of soft ground for Listed Derby Trial S. winner Snow Sky (GB) (Nayef). 
“He’s entitled to go [for the Derby] after his Lingfield performance, we’re hopeful,” said Stoute of the Khalid Abdullah homebred. “Its still a long time away and Epsom drains very well. He won on soft ground at Salisbury and I’m not concerned about ground conditions.” 
Trainer John Gosden has two prospects for the Classic in Romsdal (GB) (Halling), second in the G3 Chester Vase May 8, and the unbeaten Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) winner of the G3 Classic Trial Apr. 25, and he noted that Romsdals participation would hinge on a work at Newmarket Friday. 
“He’ll work in Newmarket and see what the owners want to do,” Gosden noted. “He’s in the [G2] King Edward at Royal Ascot, so it’s up to them.” 
Western Hymn is firmly on course for the Derby after galloping at Epsom under jockey William Buick yesterday. 
“Western Hymn enjoyed coming here today. He handled the hill, switched his legs very well and his head carriage is better,” Gosden said. 
Also on display yesterday was last year’s G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who pulled a couple lengths clear of two lead horses in a workout. 
“He went really nicely,” said jockey Andrea Atzeni. “He traveled good and quickened up well. He handled the ground–it’s pretty soft out there–but I was very pleased with him. We didn’t go mad, we went a bit quicker down the hill as we wanted to see how he went round the bend. He pricked his ears when he got to the front–he always does that.” 
Trainer Andrew Balding showed off one of his two contenders yesterday–Impulsive Moment (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), runner-up to Western Hymn in the Classic Trial. The colt galloped under race day jockey David Probert, who will have his first Derby ride. The Kingsclere handler is also set to be represented by Scotland (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), third last out in the Chester Vase.