Aidan O'Brien declares rare runner at Salisbury as he closes in on £5 million in British prize-money
Aidan O'Brien aims to break through the £5 million prize-money barrier in Britain this year and further tighten his grip on the British trainers' title with a rare runner at Salisbury on Wednesday.
O'Brien has declared The Parthenon for the British Stallion Studs EBF Stonehenge Stakes (3.30), with Ryan Moore booked for the ride against just two rivals.
Success in the £40,000 race, which is worth £22,684 to the winner, will move O'Brien past the £5m mark in the British trainers' championship and put him nearly £2m clear of his nearest pursuer Andrew Balding as he hones in on his seventh title.
Last year, the Irish training legend finished second to John and Thady Gosden, who became the first joint-licensed partnership to take the prize.
He last clinched the title in 2017 and has claimed multiple big-race successes in Britain this year, headed by City Of Troy's victory in the £1.5m Betfred Derby at Epsom.
Other major prizes include City Of Troy following up in the Coral-Eclipse, wins for Kyprios in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and Goodwood Cup, Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Opera Singer in the Nassau Stakes.
O'Brien, who has won the Irish trainers' championship every year since 1999, was inducted into the Qipco British Champions Series Hall of Fame in April.
The Parthenon, who got off the mark in a Gowran maiden on his second start in June, will be only O'Brien's second runner at Salisbury in 19 years when he takes on New Century and Luther in the mile contest.
O'Brien won at the track last year with Cambridge following a long absence stretching back to when future Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Dylan Thomas and Arabian Prince were beaten in the 2005 Autumn Stakes, which was temporarily moved from Ascot.
Jeremy Martin, Salisbury's executive director and clerk of the course, said: "From a small track's point of view, it's fantastic to have Aidan O'Brien runners here and we'll wait to see whether he declares for Thursday's card because he's got two fillies [Butterfly Wings and Whirl] in the Tattersalls £40,000 novice as well.
"There are only three runners in the Stonehenge but if there's one or two really good ones in there, that's great. The race averages around six runners and has had some really good winners recently, most notably Arabian Crown last year."
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