AS well as being the sire of champion European two-year-old colt City Of Troy, Justify is also the sire of the champion juvenile filly in Opera Singer, who signed off last season with a smashing performance in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day at ParisLongchamp.

Aidan O’Brien, who trains both champions, is of the view that there could well be more to come from the sire’s offspring as they head into their three-year-old campaigns.

“These sons and daughters of Justify look to be very different,” he said.

“They’ve got big strides, are very genuine and have a lot of class. They stay very well too. When they came first, we knew they were good movers and very genuine. We felt they were very scopey horses, so we just had to wait and see if they had class. As the year went on, it just kept coming from everywhere. Not only with the Justify horses we have here, but there have been big performances in America and France too. We’re very excited about him.”

Opera Singer, priced up as the general 5/1 market leader for the 1000 Guineas and a top-priced 8/1 favourite for the Oaks, was handed a strong rating of 118 - officially 6lb clear of Fillies’ Mile-winning stablemate Ylang Ylang.

“Opera Singer improved with every run as the year went on, getting better as she went up in trip too,” said O’Brien.

“In terms of the ratings between the two, I’d say the handicappers have it right. We haven’t seen the best of Opera Singer yet at all, I’d imagine. We hope she’ll stay much further than a mile too, looking at her last time in France.

“We’re thinking of starting her off in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Physically, she’s done very well. Between herself and Ylang Ylang, one might go to France and the other to England. She’s by Justify, and they are very good movers. She’s out of a Sadler’s Wells mare so we didn’t think she’d have an issue with an ease in the ground.”

Graeme Smith, BHA handicapping team leader who oversees two-year-old ratings, questioned O’Brien about Opera Singer’s pedigree, and queried if there was much difference between her and half-siblings Brave Anna and Hit It A Bomb. Both of those performers, by War Front, won Group/Grade 1 races at two but failed to win at three.

“I suppose she’s by Justify, and that’s a massive thing,” O’Brien said.

“They improve a lot from two to three and have great scope. She’s a lot bigger than those two horses and much scopey. I think the Justify factor will make a massive difference to her.”

International options

O’Brien did not rule out travelling horses to America to compete in dirt races later in the season, but indicated he likely will not have runners in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

On the potential to run sons and daughters on the dirt in America, he said: “City Of Troy would be one of the main interesting ones to see what he does. I’d imagine they’d be made for the dirt as well; Justify was a big dirt sprinter who got a mile and a half, really. That’s what makes Justify exciting for us, that they could operate on two surfaces. It should come the same to them, they have tactical speed and stay well.

“We mightn’t have anything for the Kentucky Derby because nothing will be forward enough, but when we get the classics out of the way we’ll think about travelling with some of them. There’s a lot of dirt in City Of Troy’s pedigree when you bring Justify into it.”

It’s hard to imagine that many would have had Paddington on their radar as a multiple Group 1 winner in waiting at this time last season, given he entered the year with a mark of just 97. He bolted up off that mark in the Madrid Handicap at Naas last March.

Asked about whether there could be another three-year-old improver lurking in his string this spring, O’Brien said: “There are a couple of Siyouni horses who could get into the Madrid Handicap at Naas early in the season. Hopefully the handicapper isn’t listening and they’ll get in okay!”