AIDAN O’BRIEN bids for a third win the past four years when short-priced favourite Await The Dawn – partnered by the trainer’s son Joseph – lines up in today’s Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
O’Brien landed the race 12 months ago with favourite Rip Van Winkle and also in 2008 with another odds-on market leader Duke Of Marmalade. Only the mighty Sea The Stars, who beat Mastercraftsman in 2008, has prevented the Ballydoyle handler from recent domination of the Group One feature of the opening day of York’s Ebor Festival.
And with Await The Dawn also odds on today, the chances are he will continue his superb run in the race to give son Joseph a first British Group One victory.
With Ryan Moore injured and no recognised stable jockey at Ballydoyle these days, O’Brien has picked up the ride on the highly progressive Await The Dawn.
The four-year-old is still relatively inexperienced but has recorded impressive successes in the Huxley Stakes at Chester and the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The 18-year-old won his first Classic in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Roderic O’Connor, who is in opposition today under Colm O’Donoghue. But O’Brien junior is delighted to be on board Await The Dawn. He said: “I haven’t ridden him in a race but I know him well at home. He’s a lovely, big horse and you’d say he was very uncomplicated.
“His form looks good from Ascot, so hopefully he will run well.”
Prince Khalid Abdullah sponsors the race and would love to finally win it. He has two entries from trainer Sir Henry Cecil’s stable in Midday and Twice Over, who are likely to provide the sternest test to Await The Dawn.
Twice Over was just pipped by O’Brien’s Rip Van Winkle last year. And despite some in and out form last time the three-time Group One winner scored over course and distance in the York Stakes last month.
Cecil’s stable jockey Tom Queally will ride Midday, who landed the Nassau Stakes for the third year in a row.
Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “This is a race everyone connected with Juddmonte would dearly like to win, not least of all the boss, and he is sending his two currently most suitable and ready horses to go.”
YORK DAY ONE PREDICTIONS: 2pm Favourite Girl (NAP), 2.30pm Furner’s Green, 3.05pm Seville, 3.40pm Await The Dawn, 4.15pm West Leake Hare, 4.50pm Naqshabban.
