‘Very quick’ Australian import Storm Boy impressing at Ballydoyle

Storm Boy, Aidan O’Brien’s new Australian recruit, is likely to run in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh before heading to Royal Ascot.

The Justify colt was beaten just half a length into fourth in the prestigious Golden Rose at Rosehill last September by Broadsiding, who franked the form by winning another Group One recently.

He has joined O’Brien from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, having been bought into by Coolmore early last year.

O’Brien enjoyed great success with another Australian import in Starspangledbanner, who won the Golden Jubilee and July Cup in 2010.

“He’s very quick. The plan will be to go to Ascot and have a run before it, maybe at the Curragh in the Greenlands,” said O’Brien.

“Before he came, I wasn’t sure whether he’d want six, seven or a mile, but there’s no doubt he’s a sprinter, he’s fast. He’s big and powerful. You’d be very happy with everything he’s doing.”

One with a longer term aim in the yard is Los Angeles, who always looked the type to excel at four.

He won the Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur last season before finishing third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – and that will be his main aim this term.

“Los Angeles could go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and maybe have a run in one of the mile and a quarter trials at the Curragh on the way,” said O’Brien.

“We feel going back to the Arc will suit him well. He didn’t suit the Arc last year, as he ended up making the running, obviously he’d prefer to be getting a lead but he could be a very legitimate horse for it this year, he’s a big, powerful horse.”

Running through a few other older horses at Ballydoyle, O’Brien said: “Diego Velazquez will be trained for the mile race at Ascot, the Queen Anne, and he’ll have a run or two before, he’s in good shape.

“Tower Of London is in great shape, we’re very happy with him and thinking of going to France for the early Group One over two miles (Prix Vicomtesse Vigier) rather than running into Kyprios.

“Continuous is going to go for the two-mile race (Gold Cup) in Meydan.”

The record-breaking handler also nominated a couple of juveniles to watch, although none have been named as yet.

He said: “They haven’t been named yet, would you believe, they’ll get named next week. There’s a No Nay Never out of Muirin (which makes him a full-brother to Middle Park and Prix Morny winner Blackbeard) and a Wootton Bassett out of Yet, he looks a bit different at the moment, but we’ll know more in a couple of weeks.”