O'Brien's Shippers Ready to Roll at Keeneland

When trainer Aidan O’Brien ships a horse to Keeneland from his home base in Ireland, it generally is wise to pay attention.

For Fall Stars Weekend, O’Brien has sent three runners to the States in War Envoy for Saturday’s $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and Easter (IRE) and Outstanding (IRE) for the $400,000 First Lady (G1), also on Saturday.

“He puts them where he thinks they will do well,” said T.J. Comerford, who has been with O’Brien for 17 years. “He trains them the same way and does whatever he can to make them better.

“When he started sending horses over here, he got American gates to help prepare them. It is like when U.S. horses come to Europe, they have to make certain adjustments.”

O’Brien has had nine starters at Keeneland and won the 2002 Shadwell Turf Mile with his first runner here in Landseer (GB). Aussie Rules in 2006 gave O’Brien a second Shadwell victory and the filly Together (IRE) won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) in 2011 a week after running second in the First Lady.

In all, O’Brien has compiled a 9-3-1-0 record here.

“The only thing now is the turf course,” Comerford said before the third consecutive day with rain began to subside before 8 a.m. Thursday. “We’re here and we can’t control that.”

Seamus Heffernan will have the riding assignment on Easter and War Envoy, while Colm O’Donoghue will ride Outstanding. O’Donoghue was the rider for Together in her two races at Keeneland.

Source: Keeneland Association