Awzaan big threat to O'Brien star

Last year O'Brien, the master of Ballydoyle, was a powerless bystander as John Oxx's wonder horse won the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas. It was the first leg of an unrivalled six successive Group One victories that culminated with Arc glory and racing immortality, last October.

O'Brien knows it would be unfair to burden his star three-year-old, St Nicholas Abbey, with such lofty comparisons. But he does believe that the horse – the emphatic winner of last year's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster – could become the first Triple Crown winner since the great Nijinsky, another Ballydoyle equine luminary, 40 years ago.

Some bookmakers are offering odds of 20-1 that the unbeaten Montjeu colt can win the Guineas, Epsom Derby and Doncaster St Leger and achieve an enduring piece of history that the sublime Sea The Stars did not even attempt to undertake.

Indeed, many shrewd judges believe today's Newmarket feature – the Yorkshire-trained Awzaan has a great chance – could be St Nicholas Abbey's toughest assignment.

No Racing Post Trophy winner has gone on to land the Guineas since High Top 38 years ago, but St Nicholas Abbey is blissfully unaware of this statistical quirk and O'Brien could not be happier with his charge.

"St Nicholas Abbey seems to be in good form, his preparation has gone well and he has thrived through the winter," said O'Brien, who has won the Guineas on five previous occasions.

"Obviously it is his first run of the season and, like all of our horses, he should improve from the run but he is naturally a very fit, athletic horse and we are looking forward to seeing him run."

O'Brien has two more strings to his bow in Fencing Master, a narrow second to stablemate Beethoven in last season's Dewhurst Stakes, and Viscount Nelson, the mount of former Ballydoyle stable jockey Kieren Fallon.

Interestingly, Fallon – the former champion jockey – is among those who question St Nicholas Abbey's credentials. He points out that the Racing Post Trophy was run on soft going which will be in complete contrast to the fast ground that the 19 Classic contenders will experience at Newmarket.

"Will St Nicholas Abbey be as effective on fast ground? If he can handle the fast, then he will be a freak," observed Fallon earlier this week.

Yet, while the O'Brien team would clearly prefer some rain-softened ground, Middleham-based Mark Johnston hopes the clouds will stay away as he looks to emulate the success of Mister Baileys 16 years ago with the unbeaten Awzaan.

Johnston also saddles the outsider Greyfriarschorista, but connections believe Awzaan can retain his unbeaten record after impressing during a recent racecourse gallop at Newmarket.

"We wouldn't want the rain, both ours won't mind the fast ground while it might inconvenience the others," said Johnston.

The trainer's wife, Deirdre, normally rides out the stable star each day – but she has been pre-occupied this week at the Badminton horse trials where she is competing for the first time.

But Angus Gold, racing manager for Awzaan's owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, could not be happier with preparations. "He was precocious last year but he is a strong horse and if he is good enough he is certainly big enough.

"They were just fine-tuning him in his racecourse gallop at Newmarket to instil a bit of confidence into him.

"He is back to his racing weight now and Mark has seemed very happy with him."

It is a sentiment shared by big-race jockey Richard Hills, who won the race six years ago aboard Haafhd for his father Barry.

Richard Hills has no doubts about Awzaan's ability to stay a mile after winning last autumn's Middle Park Stakes – a key Guineas trial – over six furlongs.

And, while the extended trips of the Derby and St Leger might be out of the question, Hills believes Awzaan could be one of the top milers of recent times.

"Whether he gets beyond a mile we're not sure, but one thing we are sure about is that he will get a mile well," said Hills.

"He's pretty straightforward. I rode him quite close to the pace in the Middle Park and he still quickened up. He's about as straightforward a ride as you can get really.

"Without a doubt he is good enough to win a Guineas."