Aidan O'Brien says Luxembourg faces 'big ask' in 2,000 Guineas

Aidan O’Brien says Saturday’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas will be a stiff challenge for Luxembourg and drew comparisons with previous runners from the yard, Australia and Camelot, who went on to win the Derby.

Unbeaten in three starts last year, including the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, Luxembourg is the 9-2 third favourite for the 2,000 Guineas behind the Godolphin pair Native Trail and Coroebus.

The three-year-old is also 3-1 favourite for the Cazoo Derby at Epsom in June, and O’Brien said middle distances are likely to be where Luxembourg thrives as the year goes on.

“He’s always been very natural in everything he does and he has a very high cruising pace, but it’s a big ask for him to start off in a Guineas when he’s looking like he’s going to be a middle-distance horse for this year,” O’Brien said.

“We’ve started similar horses off in the Guineas like Australia and Camelot before they won the Derby. We think and hope it’s the right race to start him in.”

Luxembourg is set to be joined in the 2,000 Guineas by stablemate Point Lonsdale, with O’Brien saying principal jockey Ryan Moore would leave his decision as late as possible on whom to ride.

“I’m not sure at this moment who he’ll ride but I know Ryan likes both horses and he was very impressed with Luxembourg in Doncaster last year,” O'Brien said.

“He doesn’t have to make up his mind until as late as possible after they’ve done their last pieces of work and everything.

“He has won a Group 1 on Luxembourg so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he goes for him but I wouldn’t want to put any pressure on him at this stage.”

Luxembourg will carry the maroon and blue silks of Georg von Opel’s Westerberg. The Swiss-German billionaire owns the son of Camelot alongside the Coolmore partners of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Tenebrism (right): Cheveley Park winner reported in great shape for 1,000 GuineasCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The same silks will be worn by Tenebrism in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, in which she will be joined by stablemate Tuesday.

O’Brien, speaking via phone at the Qipco Guineas festival preview lunch at Newmarket on Tuesday, said there were grounds for thinking Tenebrism, winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes last season, would stay the 1,000 Guineas trip and added he had been surprised by the progress Tuesday, a sister to 2016 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner Minding, had made.

“Looking at Tenebrism, she looked like she was going to get seven furlongs last year so there’s a good chance she’ll get a mile this year,” he said. “Everything she’s done she’s done right in every way. I can’t be sure but I think she’s got every chance [to stay].

“Tuesday won her maiden well at Naas and we thought there was no way she would make it to the Guineas. But she’s made a lot of progress since then and she’s not a three-year-old until nearly June so maybe that’s why she’s like that.

“She doesn’t look like a mile-and-a-half filly but she does look like she’ll get a mile and a quarter well. We’re very happy with her and her training but it’s looking like we’ll start her off here and then maybe she’ll go on to the Oaks like her sister. I didn’t think we would be in this position with her four weeks ago.”

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