Aidan O’Brien issues warning over stable health after Magic Wand Irish Oaks disappointment
The top trainer believes some of his squad aren't running up to scratch
TRAINER Aidan O’Brien has revealed he will tread carefully after Magic Wand returned with a dirty nose following her flop in the Irish Oaks.
The Irish maestro has managed only four wins from his last thirty runners and is keeping a watchful eye on his string.
The daughter of Galileo, who started favourite for the Group 1 contest, was never travelling and quickly faded in conditions that should have been ideal.
She came into the contest off the back of an impressive Ribblesdale victory but was unable to produce anything close to that performance.
O’Brien said: “Our horses are just going through a little bit of a stage – a little bit of a change – and the odd one is not scoping right at the moment.”
He added: “We’ve seen it with the filly in the Oaks and we just have to be careful.”
With the King George coming up on Saturday, and Glorious Goodwood next week where the trainer will likely field a number of high profile runners, this couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Kew Gardens was the most prominent of O’Brien’s squad in the betting for the Ascot Group 1, but after he also scoped dirty the trainer instead relies on Hydrangea and Rostropovich.
At Goodwood, Gustav Klimt, Rhododendron, Happily and Order Of St George are all possible contenders for the champion trainer.