By Jack Keegan
Crypto Force won his maiden in style at the Curragh on Wednesday, and now all roads lead to Royal Ascot for the two-year-old.
Trainer Michael O’Callaghan spoke on Friday Night Racing to expand on his method for breeze-up sales and what he looks for when purchasing a horse. O’Callaghan has a fantastic record with the two-year-old horses he trains.
“I bought him about six weeks ago,” said O’Callaghan. “One hundred and sixty thousand at the Guineas sale in the Newmarket at the breeze-up sale. There’s a risk and reward, you're paying that kind of money because he has done everything right on the day.
“Quite a lot of people recognised that he is very good physically. To be fair to the horse, he has been lucky to everyone who has owned him. People who pin hooked him from yearling to two years got in touch.”
O’Callaghan then explained the pitfalls and payoffs of purchasing breeze-up horses.
“It’s a lot of risk and reward for that kind of money, but you have a lot of boxes ticked. I have cut out a niche in buying breeze-up horses, and a lot of the time, we have been able to land on the right ones. That gives you a good boost to your confidence.”
“He ran very well the last day at the Curragh. He was unlucky in running in Aidan’s horse, but our horse did it very well. He was a bit slow away, quite far back in the slow race. For him to quicken the way, he did. There were people quicker than and in front of him. He’s won by nearly three lengths.”
“He was a little bit green that day. He ran around a little a bit that day. Colin Keane rode him that day because Leigh Roche was suspended. He said that he thinks he is a very good horse, and anything he does now will be a bonus.”
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