O’Brien relies on Starspangledbanner progeny for Guineas bids

Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad will be Aidan O’Brien’s sole runner in Saturday’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after stablemate Puerto Rico was redirected to the French equivalent at Longchamp.

A Ballydoyle computer malfunction resulted in both Gstaad and Albert Einstein being mistakenly withdrawn from the Classic earlier in the month before Gstaad was supplemented back into the race on Monday at a cost of £30,000.

O’Brien reports Gstaad, who has a heavy Australian influence his pedigree as a son of Starspangledbanner from an Exceed And Excel mare, has trained on satisfactorily in the lead-up and will carry the yard’s hopes as it chases an 11th Guineas success.

O’Brien’s most recent victory came with Magna Grecia in 2019.

Puerto Rico will instead be aimed at the French 2000 Guineas the following weekend, leaving Ballydoyle with a streamlined approach for the opening British Classic.

Meanwhile, Precise, who is also by Starspangledbanner, was a long-time ante-post favourite for the 1,000 Guineas.

She has overcome a recent temperature scare and, according to O’Brien, has done everything right in recent days to remain on track.