O'Brien relies on True Love as Gstaad misses Group 1 test Gstaad (off feed) will miss this afternoon's Keeneland Phoenix Stakes with Aidan O'Brien now relying on True Love to provide him with a record 18th success in the Group 1. The master of Ballydoyle did signal a note of caution yesterday saying, "Gstaad has been working well but he was just a little bit quiet this morning. I don’t think it was anything serious — all his work has gone well but he was just a little quiet so hopefully he’ll be OK." George Washington and Johannesburg are among his previous winners of this six-furlong test, the first top level race in the European season for juveniles. Gstaad and True Love met earlier this season in a Navan maiden before the pair both went on to score at Royal Ascot with Gstaad landing the Coventry Stakes and the filly beating 22 rivals in the Queen Mary. True Love subsequently won the GAIN Railway Stakes in very impressive fashion over course and distance and is now set to go off a very short-priced favourite against four rivals. Green Sense looks the chief threat having won the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin last month, while the AMO Racing-owned pair Do Bronxs and Power Blue are also in opposition along with another Ballydoyle representative Puerto Rico. The going at the Curragh is now good following a dry day yesterday and 3mm of irrigation. The forecast is mainly dry with the chance of a shower this morning. The eight-race card gets underway at 1.45 with the Group 3 FBD Hotels Phoenix Sprint Stakes the chief supporting race at 3.25. Racing also takes place this evening at Kilbeggan where a seven-race National Hunt card begins at 5.27. Following two dry days and watering, the going at the midlands venue is good to yielding. The forecast is mainly dry today.
