O'Brien Sends Out Three in Two Thousand Guineas

Aidan O'Brien's challenge for an 11th win in the May 1 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket presents a different profile to recent seasons, with arguably not one standout among three colts that all achieved a high level of form at 2. 

Wembley  is the anointed one in a wide-open market, thanks to the booking of Ryan Moore as well as his course form when second to stablemate St Mark's Basilica  last October. 

"The plan was always to come back here after the (Darley) Dewhurst (G1), when he would have preferred better ground and was maybe drawn a little out of it," said O'Brien. "Everything went well with him over the winter and through the spring. Ryan knows him well and we're very happy with him."

Wembley was something of a slow burner as a 2-year-old, breaking his maiden at the fourth time of asking at Roscommon before chasing home first Thunder Moon  and then St Mark's Basilica at group 1 level.

"He got caught in bad ground a few times and he really progressed as the year went on," said O'Brien. 

O'Brien has previously been quoted as saying Wembley will need to be ridden to get a mile so being drawn away from the stands in stall eight may not be too much of a hindrance for Moore, though he will be well aware that Frankie Dettori is right under the rail in 15 aboard stablemate Battleground .

"He ran very well in America," O'Brien said of Battleground, the first offspring of Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Found . "He just got caught in a little bit of traffic early and maybe ended up a little bit further back than Ryan would have liked but he ran very well. He's by War Front  , so he should like the ground."

Van Gogh  is the outsider of the three but the strapping son of American Pharoah   is built to improve at 3, while he is the only group 1 winner among the trio.

"He ran on fastish ground early and finished off at Saint-Cloud on heavy, but I think it was probably the way the season worked out," said O'Brien. "He's a big, good-moving horse, and we always thought that he would get farther than a mile and we're hoping he'll be okay."

Appleby Trio Kick Off Huge Classic Day for Godolphin

Bet365 Craven Stakes (G3) winner Master of The Seas  and One Ruler  have traded positions near the head of the betting for the Two Thousand Guineas over the last three weeks and both give Godolphin a realistic chance of starting the day off in spectacular fashion ahead of Essential Quality 's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) bid.

One Ruler was impressive over course and distance at group 3 level last October and dazzled in work on the Rowley Mile recently, while William Buick has remained loyal to Master of The Seas, who showed plenty of boot to run down stablemate La Barrosa in the Craven.

"We have been delighted with how Master of The Seas has come out of the Craven, and he ticks a lot of boxes going into this," said Appleby. "He looks great physically and continues to show us his wellness.

"One Ruler's preparation has gone great, and it's an exciting ride for James (Doyle) to pick up. We are looking forward to getting him going as a 3-year-old.

"We were actually slightly concerned about soft ground before he won the (Emirates) Autumn Stakes (G3), and it was testing at Doncaster. We have no concerns about returning to a quicker surface."

Naval Crown  will be the mount of Adam Kirby, and Appleby believes his defeat of Master of The Seas in February has earned him the right to line up.

He added: "We put some thought into whether to run Naval Crown as well but feel that his win over Master of The Seas at Meydan is a strong piece of form. He certainly doesn't look out of place in the field."

Joseph O'Brien: Thunder Moon the Right Type for Guineas

Thunder Moon has a length and three-quarters to find with Wembley on their Dewhurst run, but, like his father, Joseph O'Brien will certainly be looking forward to getting the son of Zoffany  back on a fast track.

"I think he came out of the race with a lot of credit, and he traveled very well through the run down to the furlong marker," said O'Brien. "He quickened up well and just got run out of it in the last half a furlong or so. We thought it was a great run, and we thought with better ground we'd get closer to the principals and that's what we're hoping might happen at the weekend."

As with all of the other Irish-trained challengers bar Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare—the winner of the Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Two Thousand Guineas Trial Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown on unseasonably good ground—Thunder Moon comes here without a prep run.

"We're excited, and we think he's the right type of horse for the race," said O'Brien. "He's a mature, pacey type, and we think a mile is probably going to be a good trip for him, so we're excited."