O'Brien looking forward to Verrazano Joseph O'Brien is keeping the faith with Verrazano ahead of his second start for Ballydoyle in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The dual American Grade One-winning four-year-old was making his debut for new trainer Aidan O'Brien, and having his first run on turf, when third in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month. Joseph O'Brien was on board that day and is hopeful of an improved effort at Ascot on Tuesday. The jockey said: "He's done well since the Lockinge, we feel he's come on since the race. We feel he'll like Ascot, it's going to be his second run on grass, he should have learned plenty from Newbury so we're looking forward to it. "The ground wasn't too bad at Newbury, but the faster the better. He's a very uncomplicated horse, he ran a lovely race at Newbury and we're looking forward to it." Four years ago Freddy Head's brilliant mare Goldikova just held off Paco Boy and this year the French handler is bringing just one horse over for the meeting, Goldikova's brother Anodin who was supplemented for the race. He finished just a length and a half behind superstar Cirrus Des Aigles on his latest outing. "He's been very good and I think he's improved this year, he's very well," said Head "He's a horse I like from a family I know very well - they have all got better with age, none of them were precocious. "Maybe it was a career-best effort last time but he also ran very well in the Moulin last year when the leader (Maxios) got first run on everything. "I think he has a good each-way chance. "It is very hard to compare him with Goldikova as she was something special. I can't say that he is as good as her, but he is a good horse. "At times in his career I didn't train him very skilfully and at one stage we ran him in blinkers, as he always seemed to idle a bit in behind, but that made him too keen. He never ran two races the same last year, we couldn't find out his best trip, and it was always a bit messy. "Now we know that he is a real miler, that he loves good ground and that you can wait with him in a race as he needs to be relaxed. "We are hoping for a good pace. The straight course should be in his favour and the stiff mile will be ideal for him too. "We took the decision to supplement him because Olympic Glory is supposed to be the best of the English horses and we have met him twice. Last year he beat us by a short head (in the Moulin) and then we beat him the other day (in the d'Ispahan)."
