Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle media days have become as reliable a sign of spring as daffodils but even on a glorious Monday morning there was no escaping a more sombre context this time.
The champion trainer revealed how the families of 20 Ukrainians who work either at the world-renowned training yard or at nearby Coolmore Stud have been flown to Ireland out of their war-torn homeland.
“The boss [John Magnier] brought over all their families, between here and Coolmore, put them all up; anyone that was working here that wanted to bring their families here,” O’Brien explained.
“It was tough getting them out. The men stayed behind [but] the wives grannies and everyone came. It’s shocking isn’t it?
“They’re all living around the place, B&Bs and all kinds, and places are being done up for them,” he added.
It’s a perspective to make the magnificent triviality known as racing seem inconsequential although when it comes to the sport’s greatest prizes, Ballydoyle continues to pack the weightiest punch of all.
O’Brien’s first such media outing was 25 years ago when global political anxieties included the peaceful handover of Hong Kong to China by Britain.
If he cut a much more wary figure then it was no surprise since he was taking over from Vincent O’Brien at the most renowned racing yard in the world.
As the geopolitical landscape has got more fraught, O’Brien now carries himself with a greater ease that comes from having rewritten racing’s record books over the last quarter century.
The latest statistical target is the one more English classic success that will take him to an unequalled tally of 41.
Europe’s first classic of the year, the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas, is just a month away and Monday’s focus was on Ballydoyle’s two major hopes, Luxembourg and Point Lonsdale.
Zen approach
Both colts worked after racing at the Curragh at the weekend and carry the sort of ‘could be anything’ promise that abounds at this time of year.
“You’re probably dreaming the whole time. You have to keep yourself dreaming and at this time of year you’re probably dreaming more because a lot of stuff could happen.
“But reality can set in quick. I’ve found [it best] to not let yourself do too much of that because you’re only going to be disappointed.
“If you can keep yourself level, and dream this horse could this and that, but don’t set any targets. They’ll come back and get you.
“What I’ve found in life is take it one day at a time. And if you’re really anxious go down to one minute at a time. I’ve found it’s not good to set targets because then you’re forcing horses into slots – just let it happen,” O’Brien said.
Such a Zen approach has paid off in spectacular fashion for the 52-year-old and his Coolmore employers although a steelier edge emerged last autumn in relation to sustained speculation about doping in Irish racing.
O’Brien dismissed comments from his former mentor Jim Bolger about drugs being the sport’s No. 1 problem as “pub talk”.
He was reluctant to fuel the issue more on Monday although did reference recent drug controversies in the US and in France where a number of trainers were arrested last week.
O’Brien stressed such matters need to be investigated but closer to home he insisted: “My opinion, like everyone else’s , is that everything has to be scrutinised and policed, which is right. But you can’t be talking about something that there don’t seem to be any facts.”
He added: “Our thing always is fair play is good sport. That’s what we always say. And I think that will never change.”
What doesn’t change either at Ballydoyle is a willingness to experiment, even with the mundane.
Famous gallops
One of the famous gallops that other top classic hopes such as the filly Tenebrism thundered up on Monday now features speedometers of a sort familiar to motorway users.
The difference is they’re facing away from the horses and jockeys and their speed is instead signalled to the figure in charge on the ground.
With riders electronically linked to that figure there is minimal chance of speeding tickets being required although O’Brien believes such gadgetry is still only an aid to instinct.
“You’re constantly feeling your way with horses because they’re constantly growing and changing. But all the other things are a help,” he considered.
“Circumstances dictate everything. That’s the problem with training. There can’t be a manual because there are so many different things with horses and people that can affect us. Three weeks ago we got a foot of snow here for three days that no one else got,” he added.
It caused a slight hold up but with the season getting into gear normal service has resumed at Ballydoyle.
Aidan O’Brien on . . .
Luxembourg: "It looks like he will go straight to the Guineas. He's probably bigger than his sire [Camelot] but he has the pace. Camelot is the only Montjeu to win a Guineas and this fellah finds it easy to go fast which is a good sign."
Point Lonsdale: "He is a lovely horse. He has a great mind and when he gallops his head goes to the ground He's a great traveller, has plenty of pace and he'd love a bit of nice ground even though he was racing on soft ground most of last year."
Tenebrism: "Ryan [Moore] felt there's a good chance she could stay [a mile]. The Guineas is a tough race, though. I thought it was impossible what she did at Newmarket [Cheveley Park]. At halfway I thought she was going to run bad. But she looked like she wanted every yard of that trip."
Tuesday: "I think the English Guineas will be too soon for her so it might be an Irish Guineas on the way to an Oaks. There is a trial at Leopardstown, she could go there. I'm thinking of going up gradually on the way to an Irish Guineas or we could have a look at the Musidora."
Glounthaune: "He will go for the Guineas Trial on Saturday [Leopardstown]. He's going very well and showing plenty of pace. America [Breeders Cup] was probably too quick for him. Ryan said he couldn't get him organised and he was too green on the track. He could be one for the French Guineas."
