O’Brien relishing taking on Bow Echo again with Gstaad: 'Things didn’t go perfectly for us at Ascot' Aidan O’Brien is relishing the third instalment of Bow Echo versus Gstaad and hopes his own Classic hero can finally conquer his great rival in what could be an enthralling Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at the Goodwood Festival. Never outside the first two in all nine starts of his career, O’Brien’s son of Starspangledbanner has been thwarted on both occasions he has clashed with George Boughey’s leading light of the mile division. However, having shrunk the two-and-three-quarter-length deficit from the 2000 Guineas down to just a short head in their epic clash in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Ballydoyle handler is sure another fascinating duel is on the cards. O’Brien said: “It is always possible (we can reverse the form). He obviously just failed at Ascot. He is progressive, and it didn’t really work perfectly for him on the day – he still ran a great race. “We’re looking forward to the race again. Hopefully Bow Echo runs, and it will be a good race. “Things didn’t go perfectly for us at Ascot, and maybe they didn’t for Bow Echo either. Ballydoyle Team Target Sussex Revenge “In the Guineas, we felt we were forced on. We were very forward and had to do our own donkey work, while Bow Echo had lovely cover and everything worked well for him. “Then we went to Ascot and felt that maybe it didn’t go 100 per cent for us either. Maybe the lads thought it didn’t go perfectly for Bow Echo, either. “It’s going to be interesting. That’s what I think makes these races great. We’re looking forward to seeing what happens.” Another Royal Ascot rematch will come in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup where defending champion Scandinavia and John and Thady Gosden’s Trawlerman will attempt to serve up a repeat of their titanic battle in the Gold Cup. Gold Cup Rematch and Nassau Hopes O’Brien’s son of Justify has embarked on a six-race winning run since scoring at the picturesque Sussex venue last year and the handler is intrigued to see how the race unfolds against his Clarehaven rival and his infamous ski goggles, comparing Scandinavia to one of his very best to grace the staying division. Only a head separated the pair at Ascot and O’Brien told Goodwood Racecourse: “I think it will be interesting reopposing Trawlerman, but I think that is him whether the trip is a mile-and-a-half to two-and-a-half miles. He’ll never win by very far and he just does enough, “It’s very hard to gauge how much is in there and that’s the way he has always been. He’s very like Yeats in that way, he’s a high tempo horse and finds it very easy to go a high tempo for a long time. “We’re also thinking of running Illinois. He was second to Scandinavia last year, so he might run with him. We’re looking forward to it.” Completing an elite team for the Group One features is French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks heroine Diamond Necklace who bids to give the Ballydoyle a trainer a third consecutive, and seventh overall, victory in the Qatar Nassau Stakes. O’Brien said: “She’s a lovely, natural filly. We stepped her up to a mile and a quarter last time, and we felt we would stay there for the minute. “We were very happy with her. She’s doing very well physically. She obviously has a great pedigree, and she’s by St Mark’s Basilica, so she’s exciting.”
