Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara ready to prove their worth at Belmont

July Cup day at Newmarket is often important to Aidan O'Brien, but the trainer's focus on Saturday is set to be on the other side of the Atlantic where Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara have the chance to show why they were initially considered Ballydoyle's leading three-year-olds.

O'Brien is no stranger to Belmont Park, but it is safe to say Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara, who started favourite for the Derby and Oaks, would not be in New York had they been successful at Epsom.

Impressive in the Derrinstown, Bolshoi Ballet was the yard's only runner in the Derby but finished a 17-length seventh behind Adayar after suffering a cut to his right-hind leg.

He contests the , a 1m2f Grade 1 for three-year-olds that O'Brien won with Deauville in 2016. "He's been training well since the Derby," said TJ Comerford, O'Brien's experienced representative on course.

"Once he has good to firm ground, that makes a difference. I suppose the race wasn't ideal that day at Epsom. The ground may have gone against him.

"It didn't work out that great at Epsom, but I'm sure he's still on the right path to picking it up from there."

Santa Barbara: connections rate her highlyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The mount of Ryan Moore, he is forecast to start favourite, as is stablemate Santa Barbara, who lines up in the , which the rider and O'Brien landed three years ago with Athena.

Held in the highest regard, Santa Barbara also headed the betting for the 2,000 Guineas only to finish fourth before filling fifth place in the Oaks.

She was beaten again in the Pretty Polly two weeks ago, but the aforementioned Athena also suffered defeat in that race before rebounding to bag the spoils in New York.

"Every race she's had this year has been a Group 1 and she's been running very well in them," Comerford added. "I suppose the ground was bad at Epsom when she ran in the Oaks.

"Quicker ground suited her better taking on the older fillies [in the Pretty Polly] and she ran well. She came here on the back of that. It doesn't seem to have fazed her at all. She looks magnificent. She looks like a colt, actually."

The Camelot filly's half-siblings Iridessa and Order Of Australia earned Breeders' Cup honours in the States and Comerford continued: "Aidan thinks a lot of her. Her work at home has been good. She probably is just running in tough races and getting all the experience from running in them."

Her rivals include Roger Varian's Newmarket raider Nazuna, last seen finishing second in Epsom's Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Derby weekend.

More to read:

The dramatic moment when Adam Kirby and brave Adayar secured Derby glory

40-1 down to 16-1: the curious case of the Derby winner's Epsom starting price

'Like a hot knife through butter' - Snowfall routs Oaks field by 16 lengths

Aidan O'Brien: I'm sure hot favourite Santa Barbara has speed for 1,000 Guineas

Westerberg buys into Coolmore Classic hopefuls High Definition and Santa Barbara

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