O'NEILL DUO ON COMEBACK TRAIL

Taken from the Bloodhorse
by Tracy Gantz

Grade 1 winner Greta Hunter (APTITUDE) and Etisalat Godolphin Mile (UAE II) winner Spring At Last are working well for trainer Doug O’Neill and may race before the end of the year. Both are returning from surgery to remove ankle chips.

‘The Malibu would be an obvious major target for Great Hunter,’ O’Neill said Nov 14 from his Hollywood Park barn. ‘We’ll probably be looking for something for both of them in mid-December, though Great Hunter could debut in the Malibu.’

The 7f Malibu Stakes (Gr.1), the first leg of Santa Anita’s Strub Series, is slated for Dec. 26, opening day if Santa Anita winter-Spring meeting. O’Neill indicated that Great Hunter could be pointed towards the entire series. Three year-olds have the opportunity to stay within their own age group in the Malibu, followed by the Jan. 12 San Ferando Stakes (Gr.II) AND THEfEB. 2 Strub Stakes (Gr.II).

A three year-old son of APTITUDE – Zenith (by Roy), Great Hunter won the 2006 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (Gr.I) AT Keeneland and the 2007 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Gr.II) at Santa Anita en route to the Triple Crown. He finished 13th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Gr.I) and was headed for the June 9 Belmont Stakes (Gr.I) when O’Neill discovered a chip in the colt’s right front ankle.

J. Paul Reddam owns Great Hunter and is parteners with WinStar Farm in Spring At Last.

Date: 15 November 2007