Donnacha O'Brien Expecting Improved Display From Shale

The Tattersalls Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) eluded Donnacha O'Brien during his glittering career in the saddle, but the flourishing trainer now looks to have a leading chance of putting that CV omission right May 23 and is expecting an improved display from star filly Shale .

A Curragh rematch with Pretty Gorgeous —trained by brother Joseph—is on the cards in the first fillies' classic of the Irish campaign, with the scores locked at two wins apiece from last season. 

O'Brien made no secret of the fact 2020's joint-highest rated juvenile filly in Europe would be likely to need her first run of the campaign at Leopardstown last month, but there were signs of encouragement to be taken from that fifth-placed effort.

"I thought it was a lovely first run," said O'Brien of the general 11-2 chance, who won last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1). "She would have needed it but it was a nice starting point, and we were happy with her on the day."

He added: "She's in good form and I think she's improved since Leopardstown. We're hoping there isn't too much rain for her. A bit of nice ground suits her well.

"I know she won on soft to heavy at Gowran but she was beaten on soft ground at the Curragh in the A.R.M. Holding Debutante Stakes (G2) and also in the Bet365 Fillies Mile (G1) on a similar ground."

An important month lies ahead for O'Brien's squad, with recent runaway Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes winner Emperor of The Sun  on course for a Gold Cup (G1) clash with Stradivarius  at Ascot.

He said of the half brother to champion first-season sire in Australia, Zoustar: "I thought he'd run a big race at Leopardstown but I didn't know he'd do that. He was always going to be a kind of middle-distance horse but you never know about those extreme distances until you go up and try them."

He added: "We obviously haven't gone anywhere near a Gold Cup trip yet but the further we've gone so far, the better he's been, so hopefully, we might see even more improvement."

O'Brien can also call on a talented 2-year-old team for the royal meeting, with the form of maidens won by Masseto and Elliptic working out extremely well.

"They're exciting horses to have," he said of the pair. "Masseto, all being well, will run in the Marble Hill Stakes (G3) at the Curragh on Saturday. I think he's improved and everything has gone very smoothly.

"Elliptic didn't get to run at the Curragh two weeks ago, and we've just had to clear up a little infection with her. We may or may not get a run into her beforehand but she'll be fine for Ascot."

O'Brien's classy 3-year-old Fernando Vichi  could make his next appearance in the listed Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown on June 3 before the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1).

Meanwhile, running plans for Jim Bolger's Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) contenders Mac Swiney  and Poetic Flare  are to be decided on Thursday, the trainer told the Racing Post.

The next official going report from the Curragh will be published on Thursday morning, but the track's chief executive Pat Keogh revealed 10 millimeters of rain on Tuesday night had left the track appearing soft.

He explained: "A drying Wednesday will have helped but it's probably soft all over after the rain we've had; we'll call it in the morning. There looks to be more rain forecast for Thursday."