Moore likely to chase Kentucky Derby dream on Mendelssohn
When I dream of Kentucky it tends to be the chicken of the fried variety, in the case of Ryan Moore it is the Kentucky Derby.
Aidan O'Brien expects Ryan Moore to partner Mendelssohn in the Kentucky Derby overriding in the Qipco 2000 Guineas. Moore has had a long-held ambition to win the Churchill Downs spectacular and appears to have every chance after Mendelssohn put up a breathtaking performance in running away with the UAE Derby at Meydan last month. Moore's presence in America would leave O'Brien needing to finalise jockey plans for favourite Saxon Warrior at Newmarket on the same day, together with recent Leopardstown scorer Gustav Klimt and US Navy Flag.
The Ballydoyle trainer told At The Races: "I think it was (straightforward) for Ryan. He was always fascinated by the Kentucky Derby and obviously this horse (Mendelssohn) was coming along lovely last year. He went through the winter well and his first two runs were lovely, so that (Kentucky Derby) is what Ryan is thinking at the moment, obviously things can change but that's the way he's thinking at the moment."
O'Brien added on his Guineas runners: "They seem to be coming along, hopefully the Leopardstown horse (Gustav Klimt) and the Racing Post Trophy horse (Saxon Warrior) are coming along, they are so far coming good. US Navy Flag is progressing a lot from Leopardstown, and whether he'll go there or France we're not sure. So far, so good."
Talking of O’Brien one of his goes out at navan today that is on my ‘tracker’. Sergei Prokofiev is the colt in question in the 4.25. He was a $1,100,000 yearling that was foaled perfectly on 1st January; by Scat Daddy out of Orchard Beach, Dam ran only twice. He is unbackable today but is one to keep an eye on.