The backbone of any top stable is a strong squad of older horses to keep the pressure off the youngsters and that is something Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle team always make sure they have in order.
Despite losing the likes of Winter and Churchill to stud duties, there is still an army of Group-class horses ready keep the flag flying high in feature races.
Our man Gary Carson was on hand during a stable visit on Wednesday as O'Brien discussed some of the best of his older brigade, including Prix de l'Opera winner Rhododendron, who holds an entry in the Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes at Naas on Sunday.
Rhododendron
"They are predicting 20 millimetres of rain between now and Sunday at Naas and if that comes it'll make it tough going. We were thinking of starting Rhododendron there and then maybe going to France for the Prix Ganay. If that went well then she could come back and have a look at Newbury (Lockinge). She doesn't have to run Sunday. She could have a racecourse gallop and then go to the Ganay."
Hydrangea
"She's back going but we're thinking we might train her with the Arc in mind, so we won't be too busy early on in the year with her. We'll look at the trials on the way there. She's an unusual filly in that she won a Group One over a mile and was then to able to go and win a Group One over a mile and a half. It's a very rare thing for that to happen in soft ground."
Capri
"We have the Coronation Cup in our heads for Capri and he might have a couple of runs before that. He could go for the mile-and-a-quarter race at Naas (Alleged Stakes, April 8)."
Others
"Cliffs Of Moher is going to go the same kind of route as Capri. He mightn't stay as well as Capri and he might be a mile-and-a-quarter horse. Order Of St George will be trained for the Gold Cup and will have a couple of runs before it.
"Idaho is going to Dubai. He's in good shape and goes there for the mile-and-a-half race (Sheema Classic). Then he'll come back and we'll see where we go. The mile and a half suits Idaho because he ran in the middle of December and we have other mile-and-a-half horses as well. He's our most forward at the minute.
"Lancaster Bomber and maybe Deauville could run the mile-and-a-furlong race (Dubai Turf) and Washington DC is in the Al Quoz Sprint. Lancaster Bomber we think gets a mile well but we're not sure if he gets a mile and a quarter. He loves fast ground and he doesn't mind travelling
"Yucatan is good. He'll start in some of those Group races and we'll go gently with him. He didn't run the second half of last year but we always liked him and we'll go gentle with him this year."
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