G1 2000 Guineas hero and G1 Investec Derby fourth Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will contest the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh on June 30, Racing Post reported Tuesday evening. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the 2017 G1 Racing Post Trophy victor will potentially face his Derby conqueror Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the 1 1/2-mile Classic.
O'Brien, who is gunning for his 13th Irish Derby scorer, told Racing Post, “We've talked things over and it's been agreed Saxon Warrior will be aimed at the Irish Derby. He seems to have come out of Epsom well, and The Curragh is the plan.”
Other Ballydoyle runners have also had their next starts mapped out, with G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Lancaster Bomber (War Front) bound for the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot on June 20; and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas ninth Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) heading to the June 22 G1 Coronation S. Runner-up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, US Navy Flag (War Front) is pointing toward the G1 St James's Palace S. on June 19 and G1 Investec Oaks heroine Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will tackle the Irish equivalent on July 21. GI Kentucky Derby participant Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), a winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G2 UAE Derby, is still looking toward the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs as his long-term goal.
“Clemmie needed the run in the Irish Guineas and came out of the race well,” said O'Brien. “She'll go for the Coronation, while Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ran third in both the Newmarket Guineas and Irish Oaks, will step up in trip in the [June 17] G1 Prix de Diane on Sunday week. The Breeders' Cup Classic is the plan [for Mendelssohn] and he'll probably have a couple of races in the US before then.”
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