Aidan O'Brien unveiled a variety of stars at Naas Racecourse on Monday morning as he brought a number of his high profile equine athletes on an away work day. Among the throng to be put through their paces was last year's European champion juvenile Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was partnered by O'Brien's son Donnacha. Churchill won five in a row last year including the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. and the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and is a warm antepost favourite for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 6. Next in the betting for that event is his stablemate Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) who also stretched his legs at Naas under Seamie Heffernan ahead of his seasonal reappearance in Dundalk in a listed race Apr. 12.
Among the fillies that O'Brien brought to Naas was Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was also partnered by Heffernan. Minding was both brilliant and versatile throughout 2016 having the pace and class to win the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the stamina to win the G1 Investec Oaks over half a mile further at Epsom. After two more top level victories and a placing behind Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. she successfully dropped back to a mile to win the G1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot. These achievements were enough to gain her the prestigious Cartier 'Horse of The Year' award.
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