Exciting Times For O´Neill

Eoghan O´Neill is weighing up the possibility of an audacious bid for the Breeders´ Cup Juvenile with Doncaster dead-heater Silent Times.

The Danehill Dancer colt and Terry Mills´ Close To You could not be split in last week´s Group Two Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs.

That performance was a step up on Silent Times´ recent form which had seen him win his maiden before finishing third behind Horatio Nelson in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

O´Neill is now considering a trip across the Atlantic for the Breeders´ Cup meeting at Belmont Park on October 29.

He told At The Races: 'America remains a possibility. We will see how he is and see how much he progresses but it´s definitely not out of the question.

'He made significant improvement in his work between the Curragh and Doncaster. I was very pleased with him, I was happy to take him and take those horses on. He´s a big, scopey horse and all he will do is improve.

'American racing will suit him as he likes to be up there with the pace and he´s got a lovely high cruising speed.

'Horses that have that style are suited by American racing - it´s just a question of whether he will be ready to take on the best in the world.'

O´Neill also has big plans in mind for Prix Morny third Always Hopeful.

The Mind Games colt finished two lengths adrift of Silca´s Sister in the Group One contest and is set to stay at the highest level for the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 30.

'He will run in the Middle Park. He´s in great shape, we´re really pleased with him and he looks a million dollars so we are looking forward to that race,' O´Neill added.

(C) PA Sport