York Racecourse

O'Brien looking forward to Juddmonte International Stakes

TRAINER Aidan O’Brien this afternoon confirmed that Mastercraftsman is on course for a shot at the prestigious Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Tuesday, August 18.  

Mastercraftsman, along with dual Classic-winning hero Sea The Stars, was among 19 horses left in the £600,000 Group 1 at today’s scratching stage to heighten anticipation of a thunderous showdown between the three-year-old pair.

O’Brien’s charge is being prepared for what would be a mouth-watering clash after back-to-back triumphs in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The master of Ballydoyle said: “The plan is to run Mastercraftsman in the Juddmonte International Stakes and it is so far, so good - we are happy with him. He won at Ascot and then we gave him a little break but he is back in full work now.”

The Juddmonte International Stakes will see Mastercraftsman asked to compete over 1m 2f for the first time. His style of running - teak tough and relentless - has indicated that the trip should not be beyond him, although O‘Brien made the point that the son of Danehill Dancer has shown a good deal of speed in the past.

He said: “He is stepping up to a mile and a quarter and we always thought it would be within his range, looking at him. But he won a Group 1 (the Phoenix Stakes) at The Curragh over six furlongs as a two-year-old by four and a half lengths. That is the furthest he has ever won by, so we will have to wait and see. You are never sure.”

In 2008 O’Brien won the Juddmonte International Stakes for the second time in his career when Duke Of Marmalade prevailed in what was Britain’s highest-rated race last season. His previous success in the race was provided eight years earlier by Giant’s Causeway.

His never-say-die battling qualities led to him being tagged ’The Iron Horse’ and Mastercraftsman appears to be cut from a similar mould.

Considering the pair, O‘Brien said: “Giant’s Causeway was a very good two-year-old as this horse was. Mastercraftsman won Group 1s over six and seven furlongs at two, whereas Giant’s Causeway won his over seven furlongs at two.

“This horse won the Irish 2000 Guineas and Giant’s Causeway was second in it. They both won the St James’s Palace Stakes. Giant’s Causeway was a great horse and Mastercrafsman is very exciting. We are over the moon with his progress.”

Mastercraftsman heads up a quintet of O’Brien representatives - including Rip Van Winkle - left in the Juddmonte International Stakes, which could also mark the next assignment for last Saturday’s Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes winner Kirklees. Ghanaati, the 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine, could also line up in the feature race on the opening day of the Ebor Festival.

 

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