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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

O'Brien wary of Derby day rain

Thu 26th Jun 2014, 22:18

AustraliaAustralia
© Photo Healy Racing

Aidan O’Brien unsaddled his Tipperary winner Granddukeoftuscany this evening and talked about the weather potentially affecting Australia’s participation in Saturday’s Irish Derby.

He said: “We all know he wants fast ground. There’s a lot of rain forecast for Saturday morning. A lot can change. We want to run him, but he doesn’t want soft ground.”

Australia is the odds on favourite for the blue riband contest. He was third in the English 2,000 Guineas on good to firm ground before impressively winning the Epsom Derby on good going.

The going is currently good to firm at the Curragh. Rain is forecast for tomorrow morning in addition to Saturday morning.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.