Will Aidan O'Brien match Vincent O'Brien's record in the Royal Whip? The first of two Group 3 races from The Curragh on Saturday afternoon sees the eagerly awaited return of Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles, who has the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as his main objective this season. The 1m2f contest has attracted a field of six but, with the greatest respect, looks to revolve heavily around the top three in the market. The legendary Vincent O’Brien holds the record for most wins in the race with 13, top-class colt Alleged having won the first two runnings of the race in 1977 and 1978 en route to his two victories in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same seasons. By Marcus Buckland Selection: Los Angeles Next Best: Zahrann O’Brien set to draw level with his namesake Victory for LOS ANGELES on Saturday would not only represent a return to form for last season’s Irish Derby hero, but would bring up a significant milestone for Aidan O’Brien, who will join Vincent O’Brien as the race’s most successful trainer. Aidan recorded his first win in this 1m2f contest way back 1984 with Dancing Sunset and has hit the bullseye another 11 times, including three of the last five runnings. Los Angeles is unquestionably the class act in the field, rated 122 and having already won three times at the highest level, most recently in the Tattersalls Gold Cup over this course distance in May. Also successful here on his reappearance in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes, he’s 3-3 at this venue and has run to impressive Racing Post Ratings of 121, 118 and 124 on those visits. He’s got a Group 1 penalty to overcome, but he’s still got upwards of 4lb in hand on these terms and should get a nice strong pace to run at with his stablemate, Rock Of Cashel, presumably in there as a pacemaker, alongside rank outsider, Tangapour. Underfoot conditions should be ideal and he could just prove a bit too streetwise for his chief market rival. Unexposed Zahrann the danger Johnny Murtagh’s ZAHRANN has made giant strides in his short career so far, building on April’s narrow defeat on debut to win a Cork maiden by seven lengths, prior to following up in the Listed King George V Cup over 1m4f at Leopardstown in June. He improved again when touched off by the unbeaten Amiloc over the same trip in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, beaten just three-quarters-of-a-length by Ralph Beckett’s five-time winner, who is now being aimed at the Irish St Leger here next month. That’s strong form, he remains open to further progress and will be in receipt of a handy weight-for-age allowance. However, he was notably strong at the finish last time and it’s doubtful that a drop back to 1m2f on similarly quick ground will play entirely to his strengths. Stamina concerns for Galen Joseph O’Brien’s Galen is a talented horse in his own right, as his official mark of 114 highlights. He’s thrived since having cheekpieces applied this year, including when making all to upset subsequent Coronation Cup winner, Jan Breughal, in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes over this course and distance in April. He ran to a Racing Post Rating of 119 when just edged out in the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot on his next outing and performed well, albeit slightly below that level when third in France last time. He was three lengths behind Los Angeles in the Mooresbridge Stakes here in May and is 3lb better off with that rival today. However, he’s likely to face competition for the lead on this occasion and that might just leave him vulnerable to stouter stayers.
