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Lady Aurelia ready for Morny showdown with Caravaggio

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Frankie Dettori and Lady Aurelia

Frankie Dettori and Lady Aurelia winning at Royal Ascot  PICTURE: Getty Images  

 By Jon Lees 8:00AM 9 AUG 2016 

WESLEY WARD will not be running away from a possible mouthwatering Morny match-up between his outstanding filly Lady Aurelia and Qipco 2,000 Guineas favourite Caravaggio as he declared “we’re ready”.

In the aftermath of a four-length romp by Caravaggio in the Phoenix Stakes on Sunday, trainer Aidan O’Brien revealed the colt had reached a speed of 45mph on the gallops, the fastest ever recorded at Ballydoyle.

Lady Aurelia, like Caravaggio by Coolmore stallion Scat Daddy, produced a breathtaking performance to win the Queen Mary Stakes by seven lengths, for which she earned a Racing Post Rating of 123, the highest ever awarded to a two-year-old over five furlongs.

In an early show of betting on the Deauville Group 1 prize on Sunday week, Lady Aurelia was installed favourite at a best-priced 5-6 with Sky Bet, while Caravaggio is 2-1 with Paddy Power.

Ward said on Monday: “Lady Aurelia has one last bit of work here Thursday or Friday and then she will fly over Saturday. Everything has been going awesome.

“I have been following Caravaggio. If he does go for the Prix Morny, we’re ready. If he doesn’t, we’re ready too. Six furlongs will be no problem either.”

O’Brien plans to stick to six furlongs for now with Caravaggio, who is unbeaten in four starts, but a decision on the Morny has yet to be made.

“Caravaggio came out of the race well,” he said. “We have the option of going to France with him, but we won’t make our minds up for a while yet. He might go straight to the Middle Park. We want to do the right thing by the horse. He seems very happy this morning and we won’t rule out France, but there is a chance he’ll go straight to the Middle Park.”

“When Seamie [Heffernan] let him go on Sunday, he nearly stumbled, he went to go so fast. We’ve never had a horse with that sort of speed, so I don’t know if he’ll ever get a mile.”

Juvenile Assessor – David Baxter

We have had duels on the Downs, but if Caravaggio and Lady Aurelia line up at Deauville then the Match of the Morny is on.

Both have searing pace, with Caravaggio clocking 45mph on the Ballydoyle gallops, a record speed for a yard that is well-accustomed to record-breakers.

The colt demolished his Phoenix Stakes rivals on Sunday, but only Group 2 winner Medicine Jack looked a realistic danger before the race. His Coventry Stakes win has more substance form-wise.

Performance of the week at the royal meeting was, for many, Lady Aurelia in the Queen Mary. Wesley Ward’s filly demonstrated a turbo-charged kick when streaking clear and she would have the speed required to match Caravaggio.

Whether she has the stamina is open to debate. Her pedigree offers cause for optimism, and Ward knows what type of horse to take to the Morny, having won it in 2013 with No Nay Never.

Lady Aurelia would also be in receipt of 4lb at Deauville, which could prove key, especially as the race has been run on slower ground in recent seasons.

The spoiler could be Tis Marvellous, who slammed his adversaries in the Prix Robert Papin. Trainer Clive Cox plotted the same path with Reckless Abandon in 2012, and he should not be dismissed lightly.

Read the full story in Tuesday’s Racing Post. Try it on iPad.

 

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