Comanche Brave set for ambitious targets this autumn

Comanche Brave has some ambitious targets later in the season circled in his diary following a first Group One victory in the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.

Donnacha O’Brien reported the colt had come out of his exertions well and was on good terms with himself back at his County Tipperary base.

While the Wootton Bassett colt is now set for a mid-season break following a globetrotting close season and three runs since April in Ireland and England, O’Brien has a high-level campaign mapped out from September onwards.

“We are very, very pleased with him and he is in good form – he has come out of the race well,” said the Ballyroe handler.

“The Breeders’ Cup would be a big target for him at the end of the season, but working back probably the Flying Five at the Curragh (September 13) or the the Sprint Cup at Haydock (September 5) could figure beforehand.”

Comanche Brave produced a lifetime best on the July course, storming home under Billy Loughnane to beat Venetian Sun by a length.

Another from the O’Brien stable with a Breeders’ Cup date firmly in her sights is Balantina, who backed up a promising fifth to Precise in the Coronation Stakes with third in the Falmouth Stakes behind Blue Bolt.

O’Brien admits it has been something of a slow burner for a filly who landed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar last October but has taken time to come to hand.

Yet with another tilt at the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland in mind, O’Brien says he is delighted with her progressive form.

“We thought she ran pretty well and got a length or two closer to Precise than she did at Ascot so she seems to have taken a step forward,” he said.

“She seems to have taken it well and again we have some targets in mind at the end of the year. We would love to bring her back to the Breeders’ Cup and she could also run in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown (September 12).”