Equinties - I like the stock

Gm Equinauts

The internet is insane. It is has the ability to move markets with a comment or a meme.

On the same day Roaring Kitty reunited with retails traders all over the world to pump the meme stonk GAMESTOP, Aidan O’Brien stood in front of the camera’s and microphones of Ballydoyle pre-Derby press day to pump the chances of Derby entrant CITY OF TOY…sorry, CITY OF TROY after he has become a meme for being a small horse.

CITY OF TROY’s Aiden O’Brien for GAMESTOP’s Roaring Kitty, two leaders of the ‘pump’, each with a strong army of followers all willing to sacrifice absolutely everything to demonstrate their belief in them.

The similarities between the two hype events going on right now are simply staggering and both are likely to create such FOMO that eventually it drags everyone in. You’re not going to miss betting on the best Derby horse Aidan has ever sent out are you!?

All we can say is CITY OF TROY backers best hope Aidan is telling the truth because if that horses stock doesn’t shoot to the moon on Derby day then they’re going have the same fate as the millions of Roaring Kitty disciples when the pumpers sell and they’re the ones left holding the bags… bags of worthless bet slips.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

AIDAN’S MISTAKE

Aidan O’Brien has held his hands up after Sunday’s French 2000 Guineas as he admits “it was a tactical error on my behalf” to hold HENRY LONGFELLOW up at the back of the back.

The DUBAWI colt, who went three from three as a juvenile, went off as the 13/10 favourite at Paris Longchamp on Sunday, but he had a rough passage through the race and could only muster eighth. O’Brien has taken responsibility for the performance, though he already has his eyes on another big Group 1.

He said: “I said to Ryan to take his time on him because it was his first run and he hadn't run on that type of track before. 

"Then Ryan couldn't get out and as he kept coming back to get out, they kept coming by him and then he was too far back in a slowly run race. 

"The horse was very happy in himself afterwards and he went right-handed which was a lovely experience and I would say he felt it was only a piece of work. The plan was to go to the St James's Palace so we'll stick to that. I'll probably have more confidence to say to Ryan to go forward."

HENRY LONGFELLOW wasn’t talked about for that long as the mic’s at the Ballydoyle press day were soon zeroed in on the comments about CITY OF TROY.

It seems the more poor old Aidan defends CITY OF TROY, the more questions people have. The master of Ballydoyle believes that because he is so well-proportioned, he is deceivingly big to the eye. He thinks this is why there is a misconception about his size and as such a video of O’Brien explaining how he is 16.1 hands started circulating Racing X yesterday.

For us, it almost looks a desperate way to prop up the value of future stallion.

Aidan also doubled down on his confidence for the Epsom Derby, as he said: “I'm not sure we ever sent a horse to the Derby with as much ability.”

One has to take Aidan’s comments with a truck load of salt, every Group 1 horse that comes along is ‘the best they’ve ever had’, he must think we’re a load of muppets, but his comments about CITY OF TROY are particularly bullish and if he’s right then the extraordinary horse just wins a very ordinary Derby.

THE BIG CLASH

The first non-Classic Group 1 of the UK season is nearly upon us as the Lockinge Stakes takes centre stage at Newbury on Saturday.

Last year’s renewal was a stormer with MODERNM GAMES, CHINDIT and MY PROPSERO tearing up the turf and this year’s looks even better as INSPIRAL and BIG ROCK are set to meet in Berkshire.

BIG ROCK is now under the handling of Maurizio Guarnieri having moved to the yard from Christopher Head in April. Despite the stable switch, his original target of the Lockinge Stakes has remained the same. Sending a horse of his ability into a hot Group 1 in a different country on his first start of the season having only had him for a month is ballsy, but it’s something Guarnieri is relishing.

He said: "He's done everything I’ve asked of him so far, though no more. It’s quite normal that, with a horse who has only been here three weeks, you don’t know them straight away. But I think he is like this normally, he is not especially demonstrative in the mornings.

"We’ve decided he’s ready to run as long as everything is fine between now and Thursday when he is due to travel."

Although regular rider Aurelien Lemaitre will keep the ride, INSPIRAL is still the 13/8 favourite with BIG ROCK a general 5/2-shot.

The 1-2 from the Group 2 bet365 Mile - CHARYN and POKER FACE - are set to reappear as well as last season’s 2000 Guineas third ROYAL SCOTSMAN.

FUTURE TARGETS

Finally, there was a fair bit of news released yesterday regarding future plans for some of the top Flat horses.

So, here’s a quick summary.

Starting with Aidan O’Brien, DIEGO VELAZQUEZ could be off to the French Derby (though the Epsom Derby is still on the agenda), CONTINUOUS and AUGUSTE RODIN have the Tattersalls Gold Cup in mind, and TOWER OF LONDON is off to Friday’s Yorkshire Cup.

Away from Coolmore, Wathnan Racing’s £1,000,000 purchase ROGUE MILLENIUM could reappear in next week’s Group 2 Temple Stakes having finished fifth to HIGHFIELD PRINCESS in the L’Abbaye at the end of last season and, as expected, AMBIENTE FRIENDLY, Saturday’s impressive Lingfield Derby Trial winner, will head to Epsom at the start of next month for the Derby.

RISK ON

No bet yesterday and no bets today (at the moment), we’ll save the bank for some good bets we’re waiting on this week.