Michael O’Callaghan has explained why he has changed tack with Celeron who is all set to take his chance in Sunday’s Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
In the aftermath of his tremendous three-length win in the Group 2 Railway Stakes last time O’Callaghan suggested that would be his last run over six as he looked to step him up to seven furlongs and a mile.
However, the son of Mohaather is sticking to six furlongs at the Curragh this weekend and his trainer reflected on that Railway Stakes success on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, saying: “It was expected that the horse had that level of ability.
“It wasn’t expected that he’d do it over six furlongs on that day.
“In his work leading up to it I was strong on the feeling he wanted to step up to seven furlongs and Colin Keane was the same after Ascot.
“I said he wouldn’t run over six again, but having let the dust settle and watching the race again, seeing the field he beat, I felt that it was the right thing to do to correct my own thinking and let him take his chance in the Phoenix Stakes.”
O’Callaghan has high hopes for the 20,000 guineas purchase, with next year’s Betfred 2000 Guineas on the agenda, while he hopes to take his horse to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland at the end of the year.
“He was very shrewdly purchased,” he said. “He’s a beautiful physical, about 16 hands and half an inch, he’s a good mover, very well balanced and has a great mind.
“I think a mile is ultimately his optimum trip. He could take his chance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf which is a sharp mile.
“From when I got into racing the Breeders’ Cup was always the pinnacle. The way the Americans produce the whole thing, it’s just something people within racing aspire to have runners at.
“Seeing Ger Lyons win there with Magnum Force was unbelievable, it makes you aspire to try and achieve that.”
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