Qatar Prix du Jockey Club: Aidan O’Brien, Trainer of favourite Camille Pissarro

Aidan O’Brien, a classic trainer par excellence, holds the richest record in the history of European Flat racing. The French classics — among them the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr.1) — have not escaped the dominance of the Ballydoyle master (the private training centre where he is based), although this particular race has proven especially hard to win.

Indeed, the Irishman has saddled 38 runners over the decades for a single victory so far. That win came in 2021 with the outstanding St Mark’s Basilica, who was later crowned European Horse of the Year. Now standing at Coolmore in Ireland, the young stallion has been in strong demand since retiring to stud.

This year, at the time of the second forfeit stage recorded on Tuesday morning, O’Brien had four colts still entered: Camille Pissarro, Trinity College, Rock of Cashel, and Serengeti.

As of now, Camille Pissarro, placed in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr.1) and winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr.1) last year at two, is the favourite according to British bookmakers.

QUOTES

“To win the Prix du Jockey Club, you need a miler who can stay 2,000 metres. For the Derby, it’s a 2,000-metre horse who can go a bit further, whereas the Irish Derby is for a true 2,400-metre horse. Camille Pissarro ran a very strong race in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains — it was a fast-run race and he finished very well (3rd). That was his first try over a mile, and this performance convinced us he could be aimed at the Jockey Club. Camille Pissarro is a beautiful horse with a good mind. However, before travelling to France, he had disappointed us slightly and we thought he might be a sprinter. After his win at ParisLongchamp, Christophe Soumillon told us he had the profile for the Jockey Club. You have to listen to jockeys, especially those with a lot of experience.

Camille Pissarro definitely has speed, but his sire, Wootton Bassett, has already produced horses capable of staying. We can hope that’s the case with him. He recovered very well after the Poule, and his recent work at home has been very good.”

Trinity College finished second in the Eyrefield Stakes (Gr.3, 1,800m) and more recently second in the Blue Riband Trial Stakes (Listed, 2,000m) at Epsom. Aidan O’Brien has high hopes for him:

“He ran well but was beaten by very little in that trial. I think the Epsom course didn’t suit him. The Chantilly track is more straightforward, and that could work in his favour. He’s a well-bred colt, with a lot of class, and I don’t think we’ve seen everything he’s capable of yet.”

“Rock of Cashel made the running at Leopardstown, but he prefers to be held up. He’s a classy colt, and distance won’t be an issue for him.

As for Serengeti, I think the pace of the Poule was a bit too strong for him, but he’s a horse who can show more over a longer trip.”