Group 1 Winner Gear Up Joins Joseph O'Brien in Ireland

Gear Up , winner of the 2020 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1), has left trainer Mark Johnston to continue his career in Ireland with trainer Joseph O'Brien.

Having won three of four starts as a juvenile, including the Acomb Stakes (G3), Teme Valley Racing's colt was priced up at 20-1 for the Cazoo Derby (G1) at Epsom prior to his 2021 debut with a fifth behind Hurricane Lane  in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (G2).

The son of Teofilo  finished down the field in the Derby before another fifth in the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) and a fourth in the Bahrain Trophy (G3).

"He's just arrived to us, so we haven't got to learn much about him yet, but it's lovely to get a nice horse like him," O'Brien said. "He had some very good 2-year-old form. We'll see how he settles in and learn a bit more about him."

O'Brien registered one of his biggest career victories for the same owners in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) with State of Rest . That was the Starspangledbanner  colt's third and final start of 2021, which also included a Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) win.

"He arrived back safe and sound after his travels," O'Brien said. "He had done a lot of traveling this season to America and Australia, so we're aiming towards next year with him. There hasn't been any plan made yet as to where he could start back."