Ballydoyle seeks successor to Galileo in thoroughbreds

The search for a successor to the legendary racehorse Galileo continues at Ballydoyle. Aidan O'Brien's horse, The Lion In Winter, was a favorite for the upcoming Guineas, but it's likely that he won't be ready in time. This season is important for Wootton Bassett, who is 17 years old and has already produced three winning juveniles for the Ballydoyle team last year. These young horses are part of O'Brien’s hopes for the Classics, particularly the 2000 Guineas happening May 3. O'Brien has won the Guineas ten times before. O'Brien praised Wootton Bassett, saying he stands out among sires. Despite not many offspring, he produced four Group 1 horses last year. Twain and Expanded, two of those horses, had impressive runs after debuting late in the season. Twain won a major race in France, while Expanded narrowly lost in another key race. Henri Matisse had a busy year at two, winning four out of six races, including a top event in America. He is seen as fast and capable, although he had a tough race in France last year. O'Brien believes Matisse is a talented horse who could do well this season. Camille Pissarro also had a late-season victory, but O'Brien acknowledged that they may have mismanaged his training. He believes Camille is a fast racer who should perform better this year. Meanwhile, The Lion In Winter needs more time to prepare. He was doing well in training but has some weight to lose. O'Brien will decide soon if he’ll enter the Guineas or focus on later races like the Derby.