O’Brien has landed the prestigious Group Two a staggering 17 times, with star names like Giant’s Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001), Gleneagles (2014) and Churchill (2016) on the roll of honour.
The Ballydoyle maestro typically sends one of his best juveniles into battle for this seven-furlong contest and it’s no different on this occasion with Constitution River his sole representative.
The Wootton Bassett colt, which was second on debut in a hot Newmarket maiden, comfortably got off the mark at the second time of asking at Galway last month but this should represent a significantly stiffer test.
A Boy Named Susie, trained by Aidan’s son Donnacha and owned by his daughter Ana, left a positive impression when scoring on his debut in a Killarney maiden that has been won by the likes of Lambourn (2024), Luxembourg (2021) and Iridessa (2018) in recent times.
That came over a mile but dropping back a furlong should be no hindrance, with plenty of speed in his pedigree, and he could be the one to deny the red-hot favourite under Gavin Ryan.
The son of Starspangledbanner took a keen hold that day too so that experience should serve him well and he is taken to edge what will likely turn into a family battle for the €120,000 prize.
It is a similar story at the top of the betting in the subsequent Group Two Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes (4.02) where the fillies get their chance to shine.
Aidan O’Brien’s Composing won’t have to improve much on her dominant display in the Group Three Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown last month to take this and Lordan’s mount should be bang there at the finish.
The daughter of Wootton Bassett made all that day but she is unlikely to be allowed to dictate the terms of engagement this time around with Suzie Songs a real danger.
Ger Lyons’ charge also scored at the Kildare track at Group Three level on her last start with the Meath-based trainer admitting she had little work done in the build-up to that contest, so further improvement is expected from another progeny of Starspangledbanner.
Gary Carroll’s mount has been off for 56 days since so she has had further time to strengthen up and there should be more to come over a slightly longer trip, and she can edge the expected duel between the two market leaders.
There will also be plenty of eyes on Deauville tomorrow with Aidan O’Brien bidding for a Group One double, spearheaded by the unbeaten Gstaad in the Prix Morny (2.50).
Albert Einstein has been the juvenile on O’Brien’s lips this year but Gstaad has impressed, and he was a scintillating winner of the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot when last seen.
The Starspangledbanner colt will take plenty of stopping under Ryan Moore whereas stablemate Bedtime Story must improve plenty under the same rider if he is to land a blow of great note in the later Prix Jean Romanet (4.0)