O`Brien hints that Johannesburg is Kentucky bound

Aidan O`Brien gave his strongest hint yet that Johannesburg, who lost his unbeaten record at the Curragh last weekend, will be Kentucky Derby-bound on the first weekend in May.

Last year`s Breeders` Cup Juvenile winner finished second, beaten a short-head, to Rebelline in Sunday`s Gladness Stakes, and bookmakers immediately pushed out his price for the 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs.

He also has the Sagitta 2000 Guineas at Newmarket as an option as debate continues over his stamina but O`Brien stressed that he would not be frightened to tackle the 10-furlong trip of the American Classic.

'He might have lacked a little bit of fitness but one thing Sunday showed is that he has not lost is his pace,' said the Ballydoyle trainer today. 'If anything he has got pacier. When they lose it then you`re in trouble.

'He`s always had unbelievable pace and he`s still got it, if not more.

'He came there well on the bit and Mick (Kinane) was just trying to save him and cut downon him, a bit like Pat Eddery on El Gran Senor in the Derby. Then the momentum goes. We were trying not to bottom him.

'Mick was playing a blinder but then Kevin`s (Prendergast) filly came by him.

'The Gladness is a tough race for three-year-olds and I think it probably took the edge off Giant`s Causeway when he won and cost him the Guineas.

'He`s really well and he is a fast horse. We won`t have any faster here over two or three furlongs.

'We wanted to find out if he will get 10 furlongs without exposing him.

'It`s very possible that he will go to Kentucky and you could see him cruising going into the last furlong. That`s when it will happen - he will either stay cruising or he won`t.

'But I have no doubt he gets a mile. You couldn`t say he didn`t stay last year.

'Plans are open but it`s very possible he will go to Kentucky - they can`t all run in the Guineas. He loves the dirt and has that pace. We can always bring him back in trip later, for the July Cup. We canpull him back in trip any time. There`s also the option of the Preakness later.

'Running over further will do him no harm, it will just get him very fit and you must remember that because of the ground seven furlongs at the Curragh this time of year is more like a mile and one furlong.

'We`ve never been to the Kentucky Derby and we`re learning all the time.'

O`Brien confirmed that Kinane would be on board in America, and that the pair would be joined by stable mate Castle Gandolfo who would be ridden by an American jockey.

But the latter would not run if Johannesburg did not make the journey.

O`Brien already has a strong fancy for the Newmarket Classic in the shape of Hawk Wing, beaten only by another Ballydoyle Guineas contender, the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Rock Of Gibraltar, last season.

'It`s a dream but if we had a horse for the Triple Crown then Hawk Wing would be it,' O`Brien said. 'He could do anything and is bred to stay a bit.'

Hawk Wing, a son of Woodman,beat Naheef, winner of the Godolphin trials last month, in the National Stakes on his final start.

O`Brien added: 'He broke the track record at the Curragh and we will give him a chance in the Guineas.'

The powerful stable bagged 23 Group One successes in 2001, including the Vodafone Derby with Galileo.

High on the pecking order for the Epsom Classic this time around is Racing Post Trophy winner High Chaparral.

'He`s slightly heavier than I`d prefer and he`s ready for a run having worked nicely at the Curragh with Ice Dancer and Ballingarry,' O`Brien said. 'He goes really well and he`s starting out this weekend on the Galileo route to Epsom.

'He`ll go to the Ballysax Stakes and Derrinstown Derby Trial, then Epsom.'

Recent French winner Ballingarry could join Hawk Wing and High Chaparral on the Derby trail.

O`Brien said: 'Jamie (Spencer) was pleased with Ballingarry and thought he would have no problem with the ground at Epsom as it was fast when he won in France.'

Away from the colts, his Quarter Moon, a daughter of Sadler`s Wells out of a Darshaan mare, has been well-supported recently for the Sagitta 1000 Guineas.

'Unusually for a Sadler`s Wells, she has lots of pace and always showed it last season,' he said. 'But we waited with her for the Moyglare.

'We will take in the English Guineas to start her off anyway and I wouldn`t rule her out as an Oaks filly though she shows so much pace.

'She does everything on the bridle but no doubt she will come of it at some stage in the Guineas.

'Quarter Moon could come up against two very good fillies in Queen`s Logic, which comes from a very strong pedigree and I think she`ll stay, as well as Gossamer.'

O`Brien added that Maryinsky and Kournakova are also possibles for either the English or Irish Guineas, and then maybe the Vodafone Oaks.