Lockinge up next for ‘Fernandez’ as O’Brien targets Craven

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Lope Y Fernandez

Michael Verney

April 15 2021 02:30 AM

There will be bigger fish to fry as the season progresses, but Lope Y Fernandez (4/6 favourite) could hardly have been more impressive when landing the Listed Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday.

The Lope De Vega colt, which was third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at the end of last season, was getting his head in front for the first time since his juvenile career as Aidan O’Brien’s charge streaked home by five and a half lengths under Seamie Heffernan.

Lope Y Fernandez, already placed four times at Group One level, was cut to 5/1 for next month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury as the four-year-old looks primed to thrive over a mile with Royal Ascot also on his agenda.

“Last year we messed around with his trip a good bit, we didn’t learn what it was until the end, at the Breeders’ Cup. He’s a miler and you take your time with him,” O’Brien said. “He’s at his best when he’s able to quicken and likes nice ground. We’re thinking about going to the Lockinge with him, then possibly the Queen Anne Stakes.”

O’Brien is also double-handed in today’s Craven Stakes (3.35) at Newmarket as the Ballydoyle maestro bids to land the Group Three prize for the first time through Khartoum or Sandhurst. Ryan Moore partners Curragh maiden winner Khartoum while Frankie Dettori is aboard Gowran Park scorer Sandhurst, but Master Of The Seas can undo the pair.

Charlie Appleby’s charge landed the Group Two Superlative Stakes last summer before finishing fourth in the National Stakes at the Curragh and the Dubawi colt has a fitness edge having finished second on his first start of 2021 in Meydan.

That isn’t the only Irish representation in the UK today, though, as Joseph O’Brien saddles Scholastic – with JJ Slevin aboard – in the Grade Three Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2.05) at Cheltenham after her fine run when third in a Fairyhouse Grade Two 10 days ago.

The younger O’Brien was also in red-hot form at Leopardstown as the Kilkenny trainer notched a 359/1 three-timer spearheaded by success for Epsom Derby long shot Southern Lights (4/1), which will next contest a Derby Trial, in the 1m2f maiden.

Meanwhile, Rachael Blackmore has six mounts – including one reserve – at Limerick today as she bids to close the nine-winner gap (95-86) to the injured Paul Townend in their battle to be Irish champion jumps jockey with Low Lie The Fields her best chance in the handicap hurdle (4.15).

TOP TIPPING

Irish Independent racing correspondent Michael Verney is in red-hot tipping form with Sacred (6/1), Somptueux (5/1), Poetic Flare (3/1) Bolshoi Ballet (2/1) and Lope Y Fernandez (4/6) all obliging in recent days.