Caravaggio to Bypass Showdown With 'Lady'

A showdown between Scat Daddy's star juveniles Caravaggio and Lady Aurelia in the Darley Prix Morny (Fr-I) Aug. 21 at Deauville will likely not take place as Caravaggio is being pointed instead toward a race in September, Racing Post reports.

"We've decided to wait and aim Caravaggio at the Juddmonte Middle Park (Eng-I, Sept. 24 at Newmarket). That is the plan as of now," trainer Aidan O'Brien said of Coolmore and partners' colt, who would be making a two-week turnaround following his win in the Keeneland Phoenix (Ire-I) Aug. 7 to stay unbeaten in four starts. 

Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, and Peter Leidel's impressive Lady Aurelia, based in the U.S. with trainer Wesley Ward, is perfect in her two starts, having dominated rivals by seven lengths in the five-furlong Queen Mary (gr. II) in June at Royal Ascot last out. In her only other start, she set a Keeneland track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in :50.85 in winning her debut by 7 1/2 lengths April 21. She arrived in France Aug. 15. 

The field for the Prix Morny, run at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), has not yet been set. The five-day forfeit stage is Aug. 17, after which there will be a clearer picture of the expected runners.

Lady Aurelia completed her preparations for the Prix Morny when working four furlongs in :48 over the firm turf course at Keeneland Aug. 11, pleasing Ward.

"We're ready as we've ever been," he said. "She's matured. She's blossomed, developing. She's very fast. Got a beautiful mind to her. She does everything well. We're very, very excited."

Ward won the 2013 Prix Morny with another Keeneland-based runner, No Nay Never, who previously had won the Norfolk (gr. II) at Royal Ascot.