AIDAN O’BRIEN is on the brink of smashing his own world record – thanks to a former Derby winner running 4,500 miles from home.
The Ballydoyle boss has readied 2025 Epsom conqueror Lambourn for a tilt at the $1.5million Bahrain International Trophy.
Ryan Moore – who will – is in the plate and he looks set to bounce out and attempt to make all over 1m2f from stall nine.
O’Brien set the world record for the most Group 1 wins in a season with 28 in 2017.
He matched it last month with at Keeneland.
Lambourn may not be the most obvious choice to smash the glass ceiling.
His only win this year came in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester last May.
Mind you, subsequent Arc runner-up Bay City Roller was second that day so the form has stood up surprisingly well.
He caught the eye when finishing fourth in the King George at Ascot in July but finished last in the Irish Champion Stakes when last seen in September.
O’Brien will have primed him for a big run in Bahrain, which is at 4.35pm our time.
Michael Flanagan of Coolmore Stud has travelled over with him and reckons he is fine fettle ahead of the potentially historic outing.
He said: “He’s a had a nice break and a good freshen up and Pat Keating was smiling so it’s all systems go.
“Hopefully we can break this record.”
Lambourn is being backed but is as big as 16-1 to get it done, with George Scott’s Wimbledon Hawkeye is the 7-2 market leader.
Bahrain International Trophy odds
10-3 Wimbledon Hawkeye, Royal Champion
9-2 Sallaal
10-1 Military Order
11-1 Zaydann, Phineas
14-1 Galen, Lambourn, Glacius
16-1 Baroud
22-1 Seagulls Eleven
50-1 Hi Royal
66-1 Calif
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