Camille Pissarro announced himself as a leading contender for the Coventry in a promising debut over 6f at Navan when he overcame inexperience to score. A 1,250,000gns purchase, the Wootton Bassett colt looked disorganised under pressure from Ryan Moore but learned on the job and ran on strongly to a length-and-a-half success over New Theory.
Despite that form not being striking with no winners coming out of the race, Camille Pissarro confirmed his promise when just denied in the 6f Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes next time out at the Curragh on May 25. Again showing signs of greenness, the colt made a menacing-looking challenge to join Arizona Blaze and briefly led in the final stages before going down by a head on the line.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien won the Coventry last year with River Tiber and it is revealing he deemed Camille Pissarro Ballydoyle’s longtime main contender for the 6f Group 2.
What they said Aidan O’Brien (June 5, via Racing TV): “Ryan [Moore] said he was very babyish at the Curragh and said he might have attacked the winner earlier if he had the chance again. I probably didn’t have him forward enough for his second start. If he works well between now and then, he’ll go on to the Coventry. He was always our main Coventry horse and the experience he had last time will have helped him.”
