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Frogsracing hopped over to Ireland this week to visit Ballydoyle, hoping for something definitive on the plans of Europe’s top stable for the French Classics.
We left largely unenlightened. All roads from Tipperary lead to the Investec Derby – Aidan O’Brien said the race is “the ultimate” and all his talk centred on the favourite for Epsom, St Nicholas Abbey – so comprehensively defeated in the Newmarket Guineas by Mikel Delzangles’ Makfi.
(A French horsebox from Gouvieux stood in the Irish yard: we were assured Makfi was not on it).
O’Brien had 19 in the Poulains and 11 entered in the Pouliches on Sunday yet all of them 'escaped' at this week's first forfeit stage for the pair of Classics.
There is a more positive attitude to the Jockey Club – Jan Vermeer may be O’Brien’s hope there.
The son of Montjeu was winner of Saint-Cloud’s Criterium International last November following in the footsteps of Act One, Dalakhani and Bago, all heroes of this Group One in its short history.
But the Investec Derby will take precedence over all other Ballydoyle thinking.
O’Brien said his team were “crawling out of the jungle” – his phrase to dismiss the stable’s slow start to the season.
Epsom sponsors Investec’s symbol is the zebra. They are to be placed all over Epsom Downs. What next, wildebeeste in the Bois du Boulogne and cheetahs at Chantilly?
They will not be real zebras of course: not least the real zebra population will be glad of the fact – O’Brien is a wounded beast on the prowl.
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Frogwatch, by Rolf Johnson 
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