Duke options under consideration
by Michelle Fortune, 08 September 2008
Aidan O'Brien will consider all the options available to him before deciding on Duke Of Marmalade's next target.
The five-time Group One winner was scheduled to run in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, but soft ground led to him being withdrawn from the contest which was eventually won by Derby hero New Approach.
Duke Of Marmalade is entered in both the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as well as the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe another possible for the son of Danehill.
O'Brien intends to saddle Solider Of Fortune in the October 5 showpiece at Longchamp, but has not ruled out sending Duke Of Marmalade as well.
However, he has warned that ground conditions will be taken into consideration when a decision on his target is made.
"We will have to look at plans and the Arc is a race we will have to look at," O'Brien explained.
"Solider Of Fortune definitely goes there and we will consider Duke - as well as looking at the Breeders' Cup.
"The Duke has had a tough season and we don't want to subject him to soft ground now, with the rest of the year in mind."
O'Brien had hoped to add to his impressive Group One tally on Sunday but Halfway To Heaven and Henrythenavigator failed to land the spoils at Leopardstown and Longchamp respectively.
The Ballydoyle trainer will now focus on the final Classic of the season in Ireland with Septimus set to run in the Irish Field Irish St Leger on Saturday.
Last year's winner Yeats is also a possible and O'Brien has confirmed that he is unlikely to take up his entry in the GNER Doncaster Cup on Friday.
"Yeats is unlikely to run at Doncaster. He could go for the Irish St Leger, but if Septimus runs there then he will go to France for the Prix du Cadran," O'Brien concluded.