Mr O`Brien may take on Aidan`s stars

American trainer Michael Dickinson is considering a tilt at this year`s Sagitta 2000 Guineas with his colt Mr O`Brien.

Dickinson, best remembered for saddling the first five home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, could bring his unbeaten colt across the Atlantic for the first Classic of the season.

Mr O`Brien was unraced at two but made a good start by winning a maiden on the turf at Fair Grounds, New Orleans, in January before following up with another victory at the same course last week.

He seems to have done enough at home to convince Dickinson that he was worth entering for the one-mile contest but the Maryland-based trainer is not getting carried away.

'He`ll have to win his next race (at Keeneland in early April) if he`s to justify a crack at the Guineas,' said the Maryland-based trainer.

'I don`t like to talk my horses up - they`ve got to prove it on the track first.

'In last week`s race we were joint-favourite with a horse owned by my ex-boss, Robert Sangster.

'I wanted to have a 10 grand bet with him that wherever they finished mine would beat his but unfortunately he was in Australia and I couldn`t get hold of him! His horse (Rehearsal Hall) finished second.'

Dickinson`s horse is one of two Americans among 93 entries for the Stg£300,000 race.

The other American-trained entry is Minerveeni, from David Vivian`s stable at Gulfstream Park and owned by Pat Flavin, also an owner with Newmarket trainer Mick Ryan who entered the horse in the Guineas.

Aidan O`Brien`s 20-strong entry is headed by Middle Park Stakes and Breeders` Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg.

Ballydoyle`s other two juvenile stars from last season, Hawk Wing and Darley Dewhurst Stakes hero Rock Of Gibraltar, are also entered.

There are also seven entries from France including Zipping, who chased home Johannesburg in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last year.

Saeed bin Suroor has 15 entries for Godolphin including Dubai Destination, who was an impressive winner at York last August.

Unbeaten fillies Queen`s Logic and Gossamer stand out among the 86 entries for the Sagitta 1000 Guineas over the winter.

Aidan O`Brien has 11 fillies entered up including Sophisticat, who chased home Queen`s Logic in the Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket last season.