As the British Flat season rolls into action and the G1 2,000 Guineas looms large, the question inevitably arises: “Have they trained on from two to three?”
Joseph O’Brien is confident Scorthy Champ can answer that particular question with a resounding yes when his exciting colt takes to the Rowley Mile for the first Classic of the campaign on Saturday.
Scorthy Champ’s impressive G1 National Stakes win on only his third start may seem like many moons ago from the outside. But, in the measured and methodical way that has become a hallmark of O’Brien’s relatively short training career at Owning Hill, the 31-year-old has carefully prepared his charge for this weekend’s test with a slow, deliberate build up that started almost as soon as he passed the winning post on that September afternoon at the Curragh.
“He’s trained just about every day since the National Stakes,” O’Brien told Andrew Le Jeune on the latest Idol Horse Podcast. “We’ve slowly progressed his training towards this weekend. Everything has gone smoothly – touch wood – and we’re excited to take part.”
Scorthy Champ burst onto the scene with a dominant two-length success at Leopardstown on debut before he was thrust into Group 2 company on his second start. While he failed to reel in Henri Matisse – trained by Joseph’s master trainer of a father, Aidan – in the G2 Futurity Stakes, Scorthy Champ quickly reversed the form when he knuckled down in the closing stages of the National Stakes to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s been really good,” O’Brien added. “He’s a high-class colt and he was very impressive in the National Stakes.
“Hopefully we can campaign him aggressively this season and we’re excited to be one of the live contenders in the first Classic of the year.”
Like his three career starts to date, Scorthy Champ will be partnered by one of Ireland’s most exciting up-and-coming talents in the saddle in the form of Dylan Browne McMonagle.
The 2,000 Guineas presents a big opportunity for the young jockey-trainer partnership in a year which looks particularly open. The John and Thady Gosden-trained Field Of Gold sets the standard after his powerful G3 Craven Stakes win last month, but there is no obvious standout.
“It looks like an open Guineas and [Field Of Gold] was very impressive in his trial,” O’Brien said. “We’ve had a good preparation and it’s been our intention to come here without a prep run.” ∎
