It wasn’t a performance that showed his outstanding ability, but Luxembourg pleased coach Aidan O’Brien on August 13 with a tough win as he returned from injury in the Royal Whip Stakes (G3), setting up an exciting clash of Irish Champion Stakes (G1) with many French won in group 1 Vadeni .
The official win at 2-9 doesn’t tell the whole story of the return of Epsom Derby’s one-time favorite Curragh (G1), as he was pushed to the peg of the collar when Trade as big as 28-1 in the game when led by crouching horses Insinuendo .
Serious questions have been raised, but Luxembourg has the answers as it gets closer to home to get back on track for next month’s group 1.
A lot of improvement will be needed on what he has already achieved in this group of 3, but O’Brien estimates he will improve by “20-30%” from the first start since finishing third for arrive Coroebus on April 30 Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
“We’re very relieved because we didn’t think he would make it here – we thought he didn’t have a chance to run (this year) after what happened to him,” O’Brien said. refers to a muscle injury in the Epsom preparation of colt.
“Everyone did a great job helping him get over his first mistake, he took a long break. Then he came back and it didn’t go well for him.
“We keep an eye on the Irish Champion Stakes and we obviously know you can’t get there without running, and this is the only place we can run. The track is beautiful. In this heat, it’s very difficult to run. there’s a run that makes Curragh take off his hat.”
Paddy Power was unimpressed by the performance, pushing the three-year-old 5-1 (from 4-1) to the Irish Champion, but O’Brien was happier with what he saw from Luxembourg, and victory over racer Ryan Moore.
“I can’t tell you how excited we are,” O’Brien said. “He can go at a very high speed and quickly turn it off, and today he overcame the slow pace.
“Ryan is very good. He has to wake him up, get him down and do it without taking him too seriously. He’s excellent at it and he finds when he has to. Go to line, he sat down again.”
O’Brien added: “We went here with High Chaparral before (winning) the Irish Champion, and he’s been lovely from it. with.”
The group 2 Insinuendo winner, representing Willie McCreery and Billy Lee, raised her profile in defeat as she returned from a muscle problem that has sidelined her since March.
She’s currently rocking the Moyglare Blandford Stakes (G1) at Curragh on Longines Irish Champions Weekend.
McCreery said: “She ran a great race. They did a great job on the ground at Curragh and Billy said she handled well. Hopefully it goes on and on.”
