O'Brien reveals stable stars' plans

ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (Montjeu {Ire}) could be back on the track next month,

Aidan O'Brien revealed Monday. Off since sustaining a muscle injury on the eve

of the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), last year's Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) winner and

champion two-year-old is back in light work according to the Ballydoyle

conditioner.

"He's in good form and has been cantering for a couple of weeks now," he

said. "He's always been very natural and didn't take a lot of work, so in the

next week or two, we'll be looking for a race for him and see when we are going

to start him back. He could be out in a month to six weeks, but until his work

steps up we won't know."

O'Brien also had news of his Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) hopefuls FAME AND

GLORY (Montjeu [Ire]) and CAPE BLANCO (Galileo [Ire]).

"We are taking it one race at a time with Fame and Glory, but it will be

either the (September 4) Irish Champion (S. [Ire-G1] at Leopardstown) or the

(September 12) Prix Niel ([Fr-G2] at Longchamp) and at the moment our eyes are

on the Irish Champion," O'Brien said. "That can change if we need it to nearer

the time, but that race works in nicely with the (October 3) Prix de l'Arc de

Triomphe ([Fr-G1] at Longchamp.

"Cape Blanco seemed to come out of the King George (VI & Queen Elizabeth S.

[Eng-G1]) well and it is possible it will be the Irish Champion for him as well.

That's what we are looking at at the moment -- it won't be an easy decision for

Johnny (Murtagh) to make."

O'Brien also confirmed that Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) scorer ZOFFANY (Dansili [GB])

is heading for the Vincent O'Brien National S. (Ire-G1) at The Curragh September

11.

"He's getting heavier all the time, so at the moment we are looking at going

to the National S. with him."