Break on the cards as 'quiet' Caravaggio disappoints again

Aidan O'Brien was left searching for answers after Caravaggio played an even less prominent role in the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest than he had when losing his unbeaten record in the July Cup three weeks ago.

The Commonwealth Cup winner was once again slowly away but, as opposed to his Newmarket effort, never looked like threatening to pick up the leaders, being beaten four and a half lengths in a never-nearer sixth.

"I don’t know really what happened," confessed O'Brien. "Maybe I ran him back a bit quick after Newmarket. Ryan [Moore] said he was a bit quiet in himself. We know what he's capable of, but maybe I should have taken more time."

Pressed on whether a trip to Sydney for the inaugural Everest invitational race was now on hold, O'Brien was reluctant to make any predictions about Caravaggio's future.

"I don’t know what’s on or off yet, but he needs a bit of a rest," said O'Brien.

Aclaim will be aimed at the Prix de la Foret over the same 7f trip as his win in last season's Challenge Stakes at NewmarketCredit: Mark Cranham

Martyn Meade was rewarded for the bold decision to turn out Aclaim just five days after the four-year-old failed to figure in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwoood with a fine second under Olivier Peslier.

Aclaim had looked likely to be a Group 1 campaigner at the end of last season but Meade's son Freddy admitted the first half of 2017 had failed to take off for the son of Acclamation.

He said: "This is a big relief because his bloods were all over the place after the Lockinge and then we ran him on very quick ground at Ascot, where he got a bump just as they were quickening.

"Even then he was only beaten four lengths against Group 1 sprinters. He was unlucky in the Lennox, but today he's shown he belongs up in that class."

Asked if a rematch with the winner at Haydock could figure in Aclaim's future, Meade said: "I think we’ll give him a break and plan towards the Foret. If he shows he's desperate for a run we might look for something beforehand."

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