Cowardofthecounty

That single win came at The Curragh in April 2024, and it left a strong impression. O'Brien said afterwards that the horse had always looked like he could be a bit special at home, but you're never sure with a young horse until they actually race. What followed was not in doubt: a big, imposing animal — well over 500 kilos, which for a young horse is genuinely unusual — that couldn't have been more impressive on the day. O'Brien floated the idea of going straight to the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, one of the most prestigious juvenile races in Britain. That's not something trainers say lightly.

Since then, Cowardofthecounty hasn't added to his win tally, but the career has not stood still. A Group 3 victory at Deauville — Group 3 being one of the higher tiers of European racing — over seven furlongs showed he had genuine quality, and jockey Ryan Moore noted afterwards that the step up in distance suited him and that he felt like a horse with a real future. Moore is not a rider who reaches for flattery. The fact that his regular partner Dylan Browne McMonagle has won 1 from their 6 races together, a win rate of around 17%, suggests the horse is competitive without always converting.

Now the plan is coming into focus. O'Brien has confirmed he'll reappear in the Committed Stakes at Navan before targeting the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot — another top-level race, contested over six furlongs, and exactly the kind of event a horse like this was bred for. His best performances have come over five to six and a half furlongs, winning 1 of 4 races at those distances, a rate of 25%. O'Brien is clear that six to seven furlongs is his territory, and says he has done well over the winter and is training nicely. Behind a yard that has sent out 154 winners already this season, that kind of quiet confidence carries weight.