O'Brien outlines plans for stars Aidan O'Brien expects Rip Van Winkle to put up a good show in his bid to land the Sussex Stakes for the second successive year at Goodwood on Wednesday. The Galileo colt ran out an impressive winner from Paco Boy 12 months ago before taking the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and then disappointing in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November. O'Brien reports the four-year-old to have thrived since his comeback run in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot where he was sixth to Goldikova. "We've been happy with him since Ascot. He was just ready to start there, but it just didn't work out for him," the Ballydoyle trainer told At The Races. "He was very handy, but he just got tired in the final furlong which he was entitled to be after being off for a long time. "We've given him plenty of time since and we've been very happy with his work and we are looking forward to Goodwood with him. "He's definitely made a lot of progress since Ascot. He's definitely on the right road now." Fame And Glory is on target to kick start the second half of his campaign at the Curragh next month. The highly-talented four-year-old earned a well-deserved break after notching up Group One wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Coronation Cup. He is set to resume action in the Group Two Keeneland Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on August 8 before seeking further success at the highest level in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 4. "The plan is that he starts back in the Royal Whip at the Curragh. We let him down and gave him a good break," said O'Brien. "He's up to having a prep run, hopefully for the Irish Champion Stakes." A decision on where St Nicholas Abbey returns to the track is expected in the next few weeks. O'Brien reports last season's champion two-year-old to be well on the way to having his first race since finishing sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May. "St Nicholas Abbey is back cantering five days now and everything looks great with him," the Ballydoyle handler went on. "He's doing very well and has had a good break. We won't run him until we see what happens in the next two to three weeks and then we will decide where he is going to start again." Gold Cup runner-up Age Of Aquarius heads 19 entries in the Artemis Goodwood Cup on Thursday. O'Brien reports the four-year-old to be in good shape ahead of the race following his fine effort at Royal Ascot, where he went down by only a neck to Rite Of Passage after a terrific tussle in the closing stages. "He's in good form. Obviously he had a tough race at Ascot and we eased him down a little bit," O'Brien told At The Races. "We did step back, but he is ready to go racing again. He's a lovely balanced horse. We are looking forward to seeing him run. "Before Ascot he had the two prep races on the way up and we were very happy with his run in the Gold Cup. "This is a lovely race to start him back."
