Aidan O’Brien set to bring team for Sydney spring carnival: Coolmore boss Tom Magnier

Irish training genius Aidan O’Brien is considering sending a team of horses to the Sydney spring carnival, Coolmore Australia supremo Tom Magnier has revealed.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien at Royal Ascot this week.

Coolmore Australia supremo Tom Magnier has revealed Irish training genius Aidan O’Brien is considering sending a team to the Sydney spring carnival, including the classy Henry Longfellow for the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick.

O’Brien dominated the famous Royal Ascot carnival last week finishing as leading trainer with six winners including Kyprios (Ascot Gold Cup) and Auguste Rodin (Prince Of Wales’s Stakes).

Henry Longfellow narrowly missed giving O’Brien and Coolmore a third Royal Ascot major when second in the St James’s Palace Stakes but the brilliant three-year-old is at the top of the stable’s list to campaign in Sydney this spring.

A superbly bred colt by world class stallion Dubawi out of former champion filly Minding, Henry Longfellow is one of the best European three-year-olds in training with three wins from his five starts including the Group 1 National Stakes at The Curragh.

* Boom Arrowfield mare makes it two-from-two with easy win

“We are looking at a couple of horses we like to bring down to Australia later in the year,’’ said Magnier from Ireland on Sunday.

“Henry Longfellow could be a horse that could come down for the King Charles (III Stakes) or something like that.

“The plan has always been Royal Ascot and then we are heading into the Irish Derby (July 1) but this is the week we will sit down and work out which horses we could possibly bring down to Australia.’’

🇬🇧UK( ASCOT) 18/06/2024 :(GR.1) ROSALLION(BLUE POINT/ROSALINE By NEW APPROACH)

Wins ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES

3 years old (Colts)
1603m Turf

O : Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
T : @rhannonracing
J : @LeveySean

2nd : Henry Longfellow
3nd : Metropolitan
4nd : Unquestionable pic.twitter.com/ZsKQiLZoez

— NAHEEZ RACING نحيز ريسنغ (@musallamqatan) June 18, 2024

Magnier also spoke with His Majesty King Charles III at Royal Ascot and believes there is every likelihood The King will be trackside at Royal Randwick on Everest Day, October 19.

English media reported over the weekend that King Charles will visit Australia for six days prior to attending the Commonwealth Heads Of Government meeting in Samoa starting on October 21.

* Breeders Cup calling for Royal Ascot queen Asfoora

“I got the chance to catch up with the King and Queen on Friday,’’ Magnier said.

“They are very interested in all things Australia (racing), The Everest and King Charles (III Stakes). They are down in Australia at that time and are hoping to get to the races.’’

Racing NSW has already issued a personal invitation for the King to present the trophy for the King Charles III Stakes on Everest Day.

Coolmore has interests in a trio of outstanding Australian colts, rising three-year-olds Storm Boy, Espionage and Switzerland who could be aimed at the $20 million The Everest (1200m).

“We will have a look at them closely,’’ Magnier said.

SSwitzerland wins the Todman Stakes.

“Some might be more Everest-Coolmore (Stud Stakes) horses but others might go down to the Cox Plate.’’

Magnier indicated the Chris Waller-trained Switzerland is “putting his hand up’’ as maybe an Everest contender this spring.

Storm Boy and Espionage are trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with Magnier relying on his trainers to determine spring goals for both colts.

“I would have to get guidance by Gai but it is early days yet,’’ Magnier said. “We are very hopeful these horses can be competitive at the top level.’’

Originally published as Aidan O’Brien set to bring team for Sydney spring carnival: Coolmore boss Tom Magnier