USS Michigan primed for battle as O'Brien makes virgin voyage to Chelmsford

3.35 Chelmsford
Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes | 1m, 3yo | RTV

KEY HORSES AND QUESTIONS

Can USS Michigan book Kentucky Derby place?

The inaugural running of this £60,000 race has attracted a strong field of nine, including Aidan O'Brien's first runners at the Essex track.

The Ballydoyle powerhouse runs USS Michigan, the mount of Ryan Moore, and Antilles, who will be partnered by Seamie Heffernan.

This is the last of seven races in the European 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' series. Horses running in the series qualifiers gain points depending on their finishing position, with the highest earner, should they be entered, receiving an invitation to compete in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.

USS Michigan (navy blue): striding clear at DundalkCredit: Patrick McCann

USS Michigan, one of two Kentucky Derby possibles in the race – Shir Khan being the other – made a successful reappearance at Dundalk last month when justifying odds of 2-5 under Moore.

That was over six furlongs and the manner in which he asserted in the final half-furlong, as well as his breeding, suggests the step up to a mile could bring about significant improvement.

O’Brien, whose runner in the Kentucky Derby last year, Mendelssohn, finished last after being badly hampered at the start, said: "If we were to have a horse for the Kentucky Derby it would be USS Michigan.

"He's a big, long-striding cruiser and we always thought he would get a mile and further. He looks the right type for the race."

Can Vision return to Vintage form?

Among the O'Brien duo's opponents is Qipco 2,000 Guineas entry Dark Vision, who looked a potential star when landing the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last July.

The Mark Johnston-trained colt unleashed a storming late run that day to beat Dunkerron by a length and three-quarters and was subsequently sent off clear second favourite behind Too Darn Hot in Doncaster's Champagne Stakes.

Dark Vision (royal blue): beating Dunkerron at GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

However, not only did he lose his unbeaten record, he ran no sort of race when finishing last of six, and was put away for the winter.

Johnston said: "It was just too bad to be true at Doncaster, where he was well beaten. He was never really right afterwards but we never found a specific injury even though he was moving badly.

"Everything looks to be going very nicely now, so we're happy. I think he's a miler, although we won't rule out bringing him back to sprinting in time."

Is Shir Khan up to this level?

This represents a serious step up in class for Shir Khan after his five-length win in a novice event at Wolverhampton in November.

Nonetheless, he looked a decent prospect on that occasion when making a mockery of his odds of 33-1 and should develop into an even better three-year-old.

Oliver Cole, assistant to his father Paul, said: "It looks a hot race but Shir Khan has been working well. We've not done any testing work but we've been pleased with what we've seen.

"We don't quite know how good he is or whether he's in the deep end or not. We'll find out. He took a long time to come to hand physically last year but we've always liked him."

What the rest say

John Ryan, trainer of Battle Of Waterloo
He won very well at Chelmsford last year. We've got him entered in the Greenham, but he went so well at the track before that we’ve decided to go back to Chelmsford. He's an interesting one. He's fit and well. Is he 100 per cent? I can't say that, but I hope he'll run a big race. He’s a nice, big animal, and the hope is he'll develop into a Listed-class performer. We're not sure whether he's a seven-furlong horse or a miler just yet.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Bye Bye Hong Kong
His work has been good. He’s stepping up to a mile at Chelmsford, which he's not guaranteed to get. But he's got more chance of getting the trip on a turning track.

Jack Channon, assistant to Mick Channon, trainer of Certain Lad
He's done well over the winter and has certainly improved. We gelded him and it’s settled him down. He's in fantastic nick and his work has been very good. We’re very confident of a nice run.

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