Haffner spearheads O’Brien’s Acomb raid

Aidan O’Brien saddles both Haffner and Confucius in his pursuit of a fourth victory in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York on Wednesday.

Saratoga Springs was the Ballydoyle handler’s first winner of what is now a Group Three contest in 1997 and he has since added to his tally with Hemingway (2000) and The Lion In Winter (2024).

Newmarket maiden winner Haffner sets the standard in this year’s renewal, having only been beaten half a length by Dr Rascal in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood three weeks ago, while his stablemate Confucius has been placed in a couple of Group races on home soil since finishing sixth as favourite for the Coventry at Royal Ascot.

“Haffner is in good form, he’s come out of Goodwood well and we think York will suit him. He’s a horse that’s progressing,” O’Brien told Tattersalls.

“Confucius is in good form also, he’s stepping up to seven furlongs and we think that step up will do him good.”

There is a third challenger from across the Irish Sea in the form of Paddy Twomey’s Trean, who opened his account at the third time of asking with a runaway victory at the Galway Festival.

Twomey said: “Trean is in very good form. We feel he has come forward again since his impressive win at Galway and we’re looking forward to running him.”

The home team includes Ed Walker’s Listed winner Alfred Wallace, Andrew Balding’s Salisbury scorer Gentle Hurricane and the Hugo Palmer-trained Stardom Glory, who was a winner on his third start at Chester.

“He’s done very well. We gave him a little break after Chester and he’s come back bigger and stronger,” said Palmer.

“This has been the plan since then. He has run well twice at York and will definitely improve for stepping up to seven furlongs, so we’re looking forward to having a go in what looks a strong race.”

Tom Clover’s Fuel The Jet was fifth behind Alfred Wallace on his debut at Thirsk in late May and takes him on again after breaking his duck at Newbury.

Clover said: “His work’s been good and historically that Newbury maiden he won has worked out pretty well.

“We looked pretty green first time out at Thirsk, a track that wouldn’t suit ideally, and Ed Walker’s horse that won came out and won the Listed race at Ascot.

“He’s in good form and I think there’s more to gain than lose by giving it a go. He’s got a good pedigree and he’s a nice horse and he deserves to have a shot at a good race.”