AIDAN O’Brien has indicated that he won’t risk running Gstaad in today’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (4.00) unless he’s 100% right after the unbeaten Royal Ascot winner was described as “a little bit quiet” a day out from his Group 1 target.

The Ballydoyle maestro has won today’s Group 1 prize a record 17 times, and looked set to supply the first two in the market when declaring both the Coventry Stakes winner and Queen Mary Stakes heroine True Love, who oozed class when posting a five-length win against the boys in the Group 2 Railway Stakes three weeks ago.

On official ratings, marks of 115 for True Love (Wayne Lordan) and 114 for Gstaad (Ryan Moore) leave them 12lb and 11lb clear of their nearest rivals. However, some doubt was cast over the colt’s participation when speaking on Friday.

“They’ve met before obviously and the filly has that little bit more experience than the colt,” said O’Brien.

“She’s had an extra run since Ascot, so it’s going to be interesting. The filly has a higher rating, which is interesting, but Gstaad was very good at Ascot. It has always been the plan for him to run at Ascot, have a little break and then go to the Curragh with him.

Pre-Phoenix exercise

“Everything has been fine with both of them since, the filly hasn’t done much since she ran the other week. Gstaad has been working well but he was just a little bit quiet this morning. I don’t think it was anything serious - all his work has gone well but he was just a little quiet so hopefully he’ll be okay.”

The market suggests that Joseph O’Brien will be the one to capitalise if either of Ballydoyle’s duo aren’t up to scratch, sending recent Group 2 Prix Robert Papin winner Green Sense into battle.

“We’re happy with her off the back of a good run,” said O’Brien. “It obviously looks a strong renewal of the race if dad’s two turn up. We’re hoping for a good run from her, and it would be great if she could get Group 1-placed.”

Power Blue, trained by Adrian Murray for the Amo Racing team, finished a solid fifth behind Gstaad in the Coventry before disappointing in the Railway Stakes last time.

Murray said: “This looks a tough race for Power Blue, but he’s been running well in all the big races and he’s danced all the dances.

“He’s in great form so we’ll let him take his chance. We’ll see if Aidan runs both his big guns, you never know.

“We won this with Bucanero Fuerte two years ago and he would have the edge at the same stage. Power Blue is a very nice horse, but Bucanero just always had that touch of class, he’s a Group 1 winner.”

The line-up is completed by Ballydoyle’s Railway Stakes runner-up Puerto Rico and Amo Racing’s Do Bronxs, representing Dave Loughnane but rated just 82.