Unbeaten colt Luxembourg has shown Aidan O'Brien a "good sign" ahead of a tilt at the 2000 Guineas.
The Ballydoyle trainer is aiming the three-time winner at the Newmarket Classic on April 30. Favourite at 5-2 in William Hill's ante-post betting market for the Derby, the son of 2012 hero Camelot was last seen on the track in October.
After a successful summer debut at the Curragh, he stepped up to Group 2 level in September and rounded off his season with a length-and-three-quarters supremacy in the Vertem Futurity Trophy. The Group 1 has produced five Derby scorers, however O'Brien believes his classy three-year-old will not be inconvenienced by remaining at a mile for his first Classic bid.
"Luxembourg is probably a little bit bigger than Camelot – he's rangier – but he has the pace," he said. "Camelot was the only Montjeu horse to win the Guineas and this fella travels along. He finds it easy to go fast, which is a good sign."
Luxembourg's stablemate Point Lonsdale, a 10-1 chance for the same race, is also on course for a trip to Flat racing HQ. The pair were given an exercise session after racing at the Curragh on Saturday. “Luxembourg was always the horse. From the time he went to Killarney, we knew he was very good,” O’Brien added.
“Point Lonsdale worked in the same group as Luxembourg on Saturday and that was the first time they went together. I was very happy with Point Lonsdale. At the moment, the plan is for the two of them to go for the Guineas. It looks as though Luxembourg will go straight for the Guineas as well.
“We could make a plan after Newmarket, but obviously both colts could step up a good bit further in the trip this season.”
Closer to home, Hugo Palmer is gearing up for another 2000 Guineas, in his first season as salaried trainer for ex-footballer Michael Owen. Dubawi Legend, runner-up to the current favourite Native Trail in the Dewhurst, has a racecourse gallop on his training schedule.
Palmer, who won Newmarket's opening big race in 2016 with Galileo Gold, has moved from the town to Owen's stables in Cheshire. He hopes to exercise this year's contender at the track when the Craven meeting begins on April 12.
