Iridessa primed for 1,000 Guineas tilt

Joseph O’Brien couldn’t be happier with Iridessa ahead of her bid for Classic glory in Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

A daughter of 2013 Derby hero Ruler Of The World, Iridessa (pictured) ended her juvenile campaign with a fine success in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, that Group One success advertising her Classic claims.

She kicked off her three-year-old campaign by finishing third in a Leopardstown Classic Trial and O’Brien feels he’s going to Newmarket this weekend with a genuine contender.

“Iridessa is in good shape and we’re very happy with her,” he said. “It’s nice to go there with what we think is a live chance.

“She’s been working well and had a nice run on her first start of the year. Hopefully we get a nice draw and we see what happens. I’m really looking forward to the race.”

O’Brien has already trained a Melbourne Cup winner, a Cheltenham Festival winner and an Irish Classic winner in his fledgling career and his filly is 9/1 with Betfred to land the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Bidding to stop him will be his father, Aidan, with four contenders for the Fillies’ Classic after he confirmed that Fairyland, Just Wonderful, Hermosa and Fleeting are all going to race.

The Ballydoyle supremo meanwhile will send both Ten Sovereigns and Magna Grecia, now the 7/2 favourite with Betfred into battle for Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas.

“It looks like we are going to run four in the 1,000 Guineas and two, Ten Sovereigns and Magna Grecia, in the 2,000 Guineas. That’s the way we are looking at the moment,” O’Brien Snr confirmed.

Odds subject to change.