Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh is one of the few remaining domestic feature races in which the legend after which it is named still holds the record over Aidan O'Brien, but the gap is closing all the time with the current Ballydoyle maestro five behind his predecessor on 10 wins.
That could easily be 11 by the time Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) completes the seven furlongs of Ireland's premier juvenile test as he moves up another rung. Successful in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S. June 18, the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 21 and the G2 Futurity S. over this course and distance last time Aug. 21, the bay has looked to have plenty in reserve on each occasion.
“We've been very happy with him since the Futurity and we think the National Stakes will suit him very well,” Aidan O'Brien said. “Physically he's doing very well. We thought he would be a Guineas horse–he's a horse with a lot of speed and a big, powerful individual. He's built like a big miler, so I'm not sure how far more he'll stay. We think he'll get a mile and a quarter, but we wouldn't be sure about a mile and a half.”
Interestingly, Richard Hannon has committed Al Shaqab Racing's admirable Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) who has made his name over six furlongs so far when winning the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 7 and G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood July 28. In the latter race, he defied a three-pound penalty to beat the impressive subsequent G2 Gimcrack S. winner Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) and G3 Round Tower S. scorer Intelligence Cross (War Front) and if he stays this extra furlong will be a formidable rival to Ballydoyle's colt.
“We are going to try Mehmas over seven furlongs for the first time. He has been going away at the end of his races and he is a lovely, relaxed horse,” Al Shaqab Racing's representative Harry Herbert commented. “We looked at various options, but while he is in good form we thought we would try him over seven.”
Third behind Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) and Mehmas in the June 14 G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot, Sean Jones's Psychedelic Funk (GB) (Choisir {Aus}) was second to Peace Envoy (Fr) (Power {GB}) in the G3 Anglesey S. over an extended six-furlong trip here last time July 16 and has something to find to figure.
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