Ouija Board’s son Australia impresses in BC Juvenile Turf
Trial
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Australia slammed 2-5 favorite Free Eagle in
Saturday’s Group 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Trial at Leopardstown, becoming
the first stakes winner produced by transatlantic champion Ouija Board.
Given his pedigree, it was no surprise that Australia cost 525,000 guineas as
a yearling, but the seemingly perfect mating of an Epsom Derby winner in Galileo
and Oaks winner in Ouija Board has resulted in many an anticlimax down the
years.
Aside from his genetic advantage, the vibes were strong that he had shown
plenty of ability in his own right in his homework when introduced in the same
seven-furlong Curragh maiden June 30 which had played host to Ballydoyle’s
former luminaries Brian Boru, Horatio Nelson, Duke of Marmalade, Rip Van Winkle
and Roderic O’Connor.
Ruining the script with a slow start there, the even-money favorite lost out
to Renaissance Art on that occasion, and failed to capture the imagination with
a straightforward score over the same track and trip next time July 20. After
the runner-up there Carla Bianca was fourth in last Sunday’s Moyglare Stud, the
form was boosted, but he still seemed to have a gap to bridge to trouble the
ultra-impressive Free Eagle here.
Lazy out of the gates again, the chestnut soon showed enthusiasm while
tracking his front-running stable companion Kingfisher and the Moyglare
representative Free Eagle. Cajoled on the home bend as the favorite appeared to
be traveling stronger two lengths ahead, he loomed upsides with 1 1/2 furlongs
remaining as that rival failed to show the acceleration that marked his debut
performance. Australia quickly asserted in what was a display of total
authority, winning by six lengths.
“He is a beautiful mover with lots of speed and the faster the ground, the
better it will suit him,” commented Aidan O’Brien. “We always thought the world
of him.”
Although Australia secured a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, his
trainer talked more about next year.
“He could run again and be a Dewhurst type (Group 1 at Newmarket October 12),
but he doesn’t have to, as he’s learned plenty,” O’Brien said. “He was lazy and
doesn’t know he’s a racehorse yet, but the gears were there when Joseph asked.
He’ll be trained for the classics next year and all the options are open to
him.”
O’Brien later made it a Group 3 double on the Irish Champion undercard, with
the sophomore The United States obliging in the 1 1/4-mile Enterprise Stakes.
Also by Galileo, The United States enjoyed a tall reputation after winning on
his sole juvenile start in the same seven-furlong maiden that his stable
companion Australia was second in this year at the Curragh, but he flopped in
the April 14 Leopardstown Two Thousand Guineas Trial and was not seen until a
nine-furlong conditions race at Tipperary August 22.
Enterprisingly ridden there, the chestnut responded to the same tactics to
register the black-type success that had seemed a formality 12 months ago.
Dictating the pace to suit, he was taken into the center of the track in early
stretch by Joseph O’Brien and battled gamely when joined by Elleval inside the
final furlong.
“I was very worried about the ground and that’s as soft as he wants it,”
Aidan O’Brien said.
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