Trainer John O’Shea feels confident handing over the reins to top English jockey Ryan Moore when he legs him up onto Sea Siren before the running of the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot tomorrow.
John O'Shea says that Sea Siren is ready for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Photo by Daniel Costello.
O’Shea will let Moore use all his local knowledge and won’t tie him down to any instructions as Sea Siren attempts to win back to back Diamond Jubilee Stakes for Australia following Black Caviar historic win last year.
Sea Siren draw barrier thirteen in the eighteen horse field but O’Shea doesn’t see that as a problem down the Royal Ascot straight six furlong course.
“That’s Ryan Moore’s issue now, but no-one here seems to think it’s a problem,” O’Shea said.
“Ryan is not a jockey I know a lot about but everyone I speak to is glowing in their reports of him.”
“You have got to take any advantage we can get so having a superior jockey is always a good start.”
O’Shea can’t fault Sea Siren’s preparation and is expecting the Fastnet Rock mare to run a mighty race.
“She looks great, her weight is perfect, she’s bright and fit and pretty much ready to go,” O’Shea said.
“I’m very happy with her, she has done particularly well since arriving in England.”
“I’d be really thrilled if she ran in the money, and if she happened to win, well, we’d make that count and have a big one,” he added.
Moore got a feel of the multiple Group 1 winner at trackwork during the week when she easily toyed with a galloping companion.
“Ryan couldn’t derive a great deal from it as the mare was far superior to her galloping mate,” O’Shea said.
In local markets Sea Siren has been marked a 7-1 chance behind 10-3 favourite Society Rock who is coming off a win in the Group 2 £100,000 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (6 furlongs) at York on May 15.
Society Rock is a consistent Group 1 performer and as well as running fifth to Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes last year, took out the Group 1 £220,000 Betfred Sprint Cup (6 furlongs) at Haydock on September 8.
Irish trained sprinter Gordon Lord Byron is the second pick at 11-2 and was a Group 1 winner last October at Longchamp in France taking out the £250,000 QATAR Prix De La Foret (7 furlongs).
Royal Ascot is currently rated good to firm with track staff having to water the course during the week after the forecast showers failed to arrive.
Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien will take over the training of Sea Siren after the Diamond Jubilee for new owners Coolmore.
