The unbeaten
three-year-old Camelot goes for the Triple Crown at Doncaster on Saturday in
the Ladbrokes St Leger and he will be the first horse for 42 years to achieve
the feat if successful.
His trainer and jockey,
Aidan O'Brien and his son Joseph, today talked about being associated with
Camelot at a media visit at Ballydoyle, Tipperary, Ireland, organised by
Ladbrokes and Doncaster Racecourse.
Camelot, Derrick Smith, Sue
Magnier & Michael Tabor, Aidan O'Brien IRE
Aidan O'Brien said:
"Camelot will work at half speed from tomorrow onwards and will travel to
Doncaster on Saturday.
"Everything has been
good so far, although there are always worries.
"We always had it in
our heads that he would have three or four runs this year. After Epsom, our
grass gallop was flooded and all his work was on the woodchip.
"When he ran in the
Irish Derby, I don't think I have ever known the ground so heavy at the
Curragh. He runs very low to the ground, not rising much, so it was very touch
and go whether he would run. He went through the race very easily, only racing
for two furlongs - he just couldn't quicken in the same way that day.
"We gave him a good
break and his weight started to increase which was unusual. He will be heavier
for the St Leger than he has been going into any other race but with
three-year-olds they often don't change until later in the year.
"His body is built
more like a miler in that he is round and strong as opposed to angular and
lean. That is a little thing that would be in your mind.
"After his races, he
just stands there and doesn't blow which is very unusual. Most horse are bit
agitated after a race. I think he must have a tremendous heart and lung capacity.
"The horse is a very
independent thinker. He is very sharp minded, very intelligent and very
relaxed. If he was in a barn of 40 horses and some horses started messing,
usually the barn would go mad but he wouldn't.
"When most horses
walk off they need other horses with them but he does not mind being by
himself. He doesn't look for company and makes his own mind up about things.
"We are in the zone
where you don't want to talk about things - you just want to keep everything
smooth. None of us know what is going to happen tomorrow. Accidents never just
happen, they are always caused along the line. There is always a list of
circumstances which cause accidents.
"We just have to try
and cover everything. It is a fickle time but we just have to stay focused.
"We have to
prioritise - we think Camelot is like no other horse. Who knows what is going
to happen - we don't take anything for granted. We will do our very best - it's
all we can do.
"We knew that Sue
(Magnier) had the name Camelot for 10 years, since the last Derby winner and we
were not going to influence her in any way. She made her own mind up about it.
"It is a mystical
kind of name and everything about this horse has not been normal.
"We (O'Brien and his
wife Annemarie) breed horses - you don't look for just speed anymore, it is
class you look for (in stallions). They have to have speed, stamina and courage
- they are the three most important things when you are breeding horses. The
Ladbrokes St Leger will expose the last two.
"Camelot has always
done things of another standard - different to any other horse. He showed his
versatility from the start and anything he was asked to do he did.
"Everything about
this horse is different - he is obviously flesh and blood but you wonder as
there is a different vibe around this horse - he is a different kind of a
character. He is just not like the normal horse that is made from flesh and
blood - there is a bigger aura around him.
"That has been
evident from day one when we saw him at the sales. The lads (John Magnier,
Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith) were whispering about him, saying not to go
and see him, as he was obviously going through the ring! He was highly thought
of before he even got here. You did not have to be a rocket scientist to see he
was different.
"We have a had a lot
of horses since we came here and many have failed their tests and not got near
the final exam, or we never dreamt of asking them to sit it because we did not
think there was any chance of them passing it.
"He is very unusual.
To be going for the Triple Crown is something I could never dream of happening.
There are still days to go and then we will see what happens. That is the
reality of it.
"I heard Lester
(Piggott) saying the Leger was nearly two miles and you are asking a Guineas
winner to run two miles, pulling him way beyond his comfort zone. There are a
lot of things that could happen.
"We take every day as
it comes and try and do our best to have him as good as we can have him. That's
all we really can do. He nearly has to be a Gold Cup horse to get that trip.
"Our experience of
having Guineas horses and the different trip horses shows that when go beyond a
mile and a half that is when real stamina has to kick in.
"We ran a lot of
horses in the Gold Cup that failed before Yeats came along. Some horses go
there and it takes so much out of them they never go back there. Extreme
distance can break hearts. The Triple Crown is the full test of the
three-year-old.
"We always had in our
heads that Camelot would run three or four times this year. Things change and
the lads will make a decision later.
"I was talking to
Lester at the Curragh yesterday and he said Alleged got beaten in the Leger and
won two Arcs.
"We are delighted
with any pleasure that Camelot gives - his Triple Crown attempt is exciting and
something to look forward to.
"Joseph knows Camelot
better than anybody and he will go out there and do his own thing. It will be
an interesting day.
"I try not to think
about, living in the present. We have been privileged to have this horse and be
part of it.
"I can do a lot of
harm to him between now and then (Saturday)! So far so good and we have another
four days after today.
"His coat is very
tight, he is very happy and he is very fresh still - hopefully that will be
good enough. I am never confident, but always hopeful and that is the way it
has to be. When you are competing in these top races on a regular basis that is
all you can be. There are so many things that can happen and go wrong. We are
very lucky to have a very serious horse which is a massive factor.
"We were dreaming
about Camelot a long time before he appeared at Leopardstown (his first run on
July 14, 2011). He was doing exceptional things.
"We did not
originally intend to run him so early but he arrived. Then we did not want to
go through all the two-year-old races with him because we were thinking of the
following year. We gave him a break and he came back, just ready to run in the
Racing Post Trophy. But his work had been exceptional. I remember his second
last piece of work before the Racing Post Trophy - I can say it now. Daddy
Longs Legs had won the Royal Lodge. Camelot worked with Daddy Long Legs and beat
him 25 lengths. We decided it was either a very bad Royal Lodge or Camelot was
something different. His heart recovery, demeanour and everything was
different.
"Joseph rode the
Group One (the Racing Post Trophy) like it was a piece of work. Regarding the
Guineas, I was very conscious that our horses take a couple of months to get
going and Montjeu had never had a three-year-old Classic winner over a mile.
"The ground was soft
and I had a clear idea about the way Joseph was going to ride him.
"We had not won the
Derby in 10 years and I cannot tell you how badly we wanted to win it. There
were two lovely Derby trials here (in Ireland) and by going to the Guineas we
could have destroyed Camelot's Derby hopes.
"It was a big call
therefore to let Camelot run in the Guineas - he was green and we wanted to
educate him as he had only had two very soft runs. So we had to teach him a
lot. Joseph buried him, used the stick in both hands and he came through horses
into the dip. Camelot learnt and grew up a lot after the Guineas. He is an
exceptional and very brave horse.
"He is by Montjeu
with big Kingmambo and Danehill traits in him. Joseph usually puts Camelot
asleep in races and then comes home.
"If he had been by
more of a fashionable miler, going to the Guineas would have been more obvious
and the Racing Post Trophy is not usually a good trial for the Guineas.
"The Triple Crown is
a dream - what has changed with the lads is originally they wanted to make
stallions and got them off to stud quick. Now it is make a stallion and expose
him because they have a lot of mares. I suppose things have moved on - people
are not so forgiving as they were and want to see horses being tested. The lads
are prepared to race on the older horses and that previously did not happen.
"There are an awful
lot more disappointments and you do your best - sometimes it is good enough -
sometimes it is not. When it is not you try and analyse why not, move on and
try not to dwell on it.
"Camelot does not
blow after his races and he comes out of them very well which is very unusual
too."
Will Camelot race as a
four-year-old?
"We always want that
but I know for the breed he is very unique and very important. Personally, we
want him to race on because that is what we do but I know he is unique and
always there is a danger that something could happen to him. It could happen in
a paddock but when you are training them, they are more at risk. It would be a
dream come true if he was still around next year.
"Nothing has been
discussed past the Leger and everyone is even afraid to talk to each other.
"I would imagine they
would go a good even gallop in the Leger but everyone has to do what they think
suits their own horses.
"His training regime
has not changed since the Guineas. He was probably trained a lot harder for the
Derby because we were on the grass but we have been on woodchips since then
which is easier.
"The old adage was
class outs but I don't know - this is a big test. We could have given him a
race, at York or somewhere, but instead we gave him a proper piece of work at
Leopardstown. They went a good gallop and worked a mile and a half. Fame And
Glory took him along after the lead horse. Camelot needed it then (about three
weeks ago)."
Joseph O'Brien commented:
"Camelot is an exceptional horse with a brilliant turn of foot. Whether he
will stay a mile and three quarters, that's the big question and nobody knows
the answer until Saturday. It may only be just over two furlongs further than
he has been before but that is still a lot.
"Camelot is still
learning and has not had as much racing as some horses of his age. I am very
lucky to ride him and I would like to thank Mr and Mrs Magnier, Mr and Mrs
Tabor and Mr and Mrs Smith.
"He is a jockey's
dream to ride as everything comes naturally to him. You let him come alive in
your hands and he is actually very easy to ride. He is just unbelievable and is
not like any other horse I have ever ridden.
"Camelot loves his
racing and knows he is one of the best. He has a great outlook on life. I
remember after he won at Epsom, he just looked at the cameras and pricked his
ears! I know I am very lucky just to have anything to do with him.
"I have been riding
since ever I can remember. Galileo was one of the first big horses I can
remember.
"I used to ride out
before going to school and ride ponies when I got home. Dad always said to me
don't let school interfere with your education!
"Halfway To Heaven
was I suppose the first big-name horse I rode at home.
"I have to follow a
regime to keep my weight down but it's not too bad. If I am riding, I will
usually eat the night before and then just have some fruit and water in the
morning.
"I am very, very
lucky in that I am riding such good horses so I don't have to ride too light. I
usually ride at 9st but can get down to 8st 12lb if I really have to.
"When you are
actually riding, the adrenaline really gives you a good feeling and you don't
get tired.
"Being a jockey is
all I ever wanted to do. I passed my exams but didn't really like school.
"The Triple Crown
would be a dream come true. I have seen the videos of Nijinsky and Lester
Piggott and if Camelot could emulate that it would be unbelievable.
"There are no
certainties in racing though and we just don't know about the extra distance in
the St Leger.
"Camelot always had a
lofty reputation at the sales and as a yearling.
"To be associated
with him is a dream come true."
The four-day Ladbrokes St
Leger Festival starts at Doncaster on Wednesday, September 12.
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