Aidan O'Brien: the Master of Tipperary has his cards on the table

During the traditional Ballydoyle Media Morning, Aidan O’Brien detailed his plans for the 2026 classic season. From the raw power of Albert Einstein to the staying ambitions held for Precise, along with the "dark horses" targeting the Epsom Derby (G1), the Irish empire once again threatens total dominance

Albert Einstein (left), of whom Aidan O'Brien expects to be a major protagonist / COOLMORE

TIPPERARY—The gates of Ballydoyle swung open once again, and as it happens every spring, the racing world stood still to hear the words of Aidan O'Brien. In a morning filled with technical concepts and high-flying projections, the Irish trainer detailed the current state of his 2026 squad, leaving a statement that echoed through the betting houses: Albert Einstein is the horse. The son of Wootton Bassett is not only the primary card for the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket, but in the professional's own words, he possesses a natural speed rarely seen on the green fields of Tipperary.

“In terms of speed, I don’t think we’ve ever had a horse as fast,” O'Brien stated bluntly. The colt, who dazzled in his only two starts at age 2 by defeating Power Blue (Space Blues) —a subsequent G1 winner— in the Marble Hill Stakes (G2), will head straight to the first leg of the British Triple Crown without passing through preparatory races. The strategy is clear: keep him “asleep” in training so he can stretch his natural explosion to the mile. According to the professional, the bay is so superior to his stablemates that since his early days last spring, he pulled away from the rest with astonishing ease, marking a difference that “wasn't even funny.”

The question, as always in these cases, is the distance. Although pedigree and biometrics experts claim he will stay the trip, Aidan prefers caution: “We won't know if he gets the mile until we try. He is very fast; as soon as the gates open, he wants to fly.” For now, the market reacted immediately, positioning him as the heavy favorite for May 2. The idea is for the colt to arrive at the appointment without having been pushed in morning works, seeking for him to learn to relax before actual competition asks for his maximum effort.

Alongside the main star, Ballydoyle holds two other high-caliber cards for the Guineas: Gstaad(Starspangledbanner), the heroic winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), and Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett), an individual who showed geometric progression moving from 1200 meters to top-level success in France. The initial plan is for two of them to travel to Newmarket while the third seeks the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) before possibly meeting at the Curragh. Regarding Puerto Rico, the trainer noted that his mentality has evolved into that of a pure miler and did not rule out facing older horses later in the year, depending on what Albert Einstein proves on the track.

In the fillies' camp, the scene has a name of its own: Precise. The daughter of Starspangledbanner, coming off a four-race winning streak including the Fillies' Mile (G1), is the top contender for the 1000 Guineas (G1). Most strikingly, O'Brien is already projecting a future in staying races for her, with the Epsom Derby (G1) or the Epsom Oaks (G1) in sight—unusual for her lineage but backed by her ability to relax and a notable physical development that saw her weigh 30 kilos more than during her 2-year-old campaign. Beside her appears the unbeaten Diamond Necklace, a daughter of St Mark's Basilica who “needs no training” due to her natural physique and will likely take the French route under the wing of Christophe Soumillon.

For the Epsom Derby (G1), the "ultimate test of the breed," the name Pierre Bonnard appears as the logical benchmark following his success in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1). However, the master left a tip for treasure hunters: Montreal. The son of Sea The Stars, who won by 10 lengths on his debut, is the stable's dark horse. With the composure of someone who has won the Epsom Derby 11 times, O'Brien warned that the colt is much more than people think and that his 20-1 odds could be a mistake by the bookmakers. He also mentioned Isaac Newton(Camelot), describing him as a hidden horse that could provide a surprise.

The classic season is just appearing, but at Ballydoyle, the home of Coolmore and the central base of Aidan O'Brien, the engine is already roaring with the power of the great years, reaffirming that the Derby remains the race upon which the entire Thoroughbred industry is built.