O’Brien’s Derby clean sweep
Remarkable fourteenth triumph for Aidan at the Curragh
NO ONE in world racing has dominated a national Derby, any country’s most prestigious Classic, the way Aidan O’Brien has done in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, and he won it for a remarkable 14th time at the Curragh on Saturday, also saddling the next three home.
Aidan’s predecessor at Ballydoyle, the legendary Vincent O’Brien, managed to win his ‘home’ Derby seven times and this was thought unlikely to ever be surpassed.
In seven of Aidan’s 14 wins he has also had the first three home which surely emphasises not just his consistency but also the extent of his domination.
The first non-Ballydoyle horse on Saturday was Jim Bolger’s Fiscal Rules (15/2) in fifth, so it was a total clean sweep for the Wexford-born trainers in the 14-strong field, the biggest to contest the race for more than 40 years. Aidan sent out a ‘team’ of six runners, and sons Joseph (two) and Donnacha ran three more.
It was a Derby day like no other, being staged behind closed doors with very strict protocols in place. Not even the owners were allowed to attend, and there was no formal presentation ceremony.
Prize money was cut by 50 per cent but there was still €750,000 on offer, and O’Brien’s four collected €690,000 of that, with the Bolgers getting €22,500 for fifth.
Winner was Santiago (2/1f), following up on his Queen’s Vase Royal Ascot success of just ten days earlier, giving Seamie Heffernan his fourth Derby win in 25 years at Ballydoyle, almost the same length as O’Brien himself.
He was pressed right to the line and held on by a head from Tiger Moth (11/1) under Eric McNamara who got a twoday whip ban, with Dawn Patrol (10/1) five lengths back in third under Ronan Whelan. Order of Australia (33/1) was next under Pádraig Beggy.
At the time of writing (Sunday evening), Aidan was not ruling out a tilt at an outrageous treble by sending Santiago to the Epsom Derby this coming Saturday.
Considering the strength of his team for Epsom, this option of three huge races in a little over a fortnight would surprise me, and I see the horse being aimed at the St. Leger, back at the one-mile six-furlong trip of his Ascot win.
Aidan began Derby day by winning the opening ten-furlong maiden with Sepentine (5/2f) under Wayne Lordan, from stable mate Monument Valley (4/1) and Seamie Heffernan.
Lordan completed a treble on the day with a couple of winners for Joseph O’ Brien, including a defeat of Sir Dragonet (10/11f) and Heffernan in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes on Buckhurst (13/8).
On Sunday, O’Brien and Heffernan picked up the Group 1 Pretty Polly fillies’stakes with the minimum of fuss with five-year-old superstar, Magical (2/5f), boosting her worldwide winnings to over €4m.
She has won ten and been second in six high class races all over the world, including winning both the Irish and the British Champion Stakes last year. She looked as good as ever after a 253-day break.
That was completing a treble for trainer and rider as they also won a seven-furlong maiden with Hudson River (3/1) and the ten-furlong Finlay Volvo Cars race with Napa Valley (1/1f) from stable mate, Keats. This was a pretty good return considering that Aidan only contested four of the eight races on the card.
The only one he didn’t win almost ended in disaster for Heffernan. He was on Snowfall (4/7f) in the opening fillies’ maiden and was close up in contention when clipping heels at high speed a furlong out; the horse almost came down and Heffernan did well to stay in the saddle though all chance was gone.
Aunty Bridie (6/1) for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning held on to win it by a short head from Sister Rosetta (10/1) for Colin Keane and Ger Lyons.
Bolger had his first winner since the resumption in the first at Fairyhouse on Thursday with Slaney East (7/2) in a ten-furlong fillies’ maiden under a strong ride by Manning who got back up after being headed on the run-in. Of course, Jim was not present to greet his winners, as he is not allowed to attend the locked down racing because he is over 70.
Aidan O’Brien opened the three-day Derby meeting at the Curragh on Friday with a Wayne Lordan double – Merchant’s Quay (6/4) and Delphi (11/1) in two- and three-year-old maidens. His son, Joseph, made it a family bonanza with a 595/1 treble in the closing three races.
Aidan and Ballydoyle will be focused on a great day’s racing at Epsom on Saturday when the English Derby and Oaks will both be run off on the one card.
He will have a very strong hand to play and another British Classic double would not be a surprise, though a win is more likely in the fillies’ race. He has already won both races seven times.
Arrangements had not been finalised as I write. English King (5/2) and Kameko head the ante-post Derby betting to keep the honours at home, with Russian Emperor (13/2), Vatican City (9/1) and Mogul (10/1) the O’Brien horses towards the head of the market.
He will have 1,000 Guineas winners Love (6/4) and Peaceful (6/1) to aim at the Oaks, with Frankly Darling (5/2) for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, winner of races at Newcastle and Royal Ascot in June, the main hope of the British.
The French Derby is on next Sunday in a hectic weekend, but whether Aidan will challenge for it during this problematic time is not yet clear.
Also on the flat, Donagh O’Connor (New Ross) and trainer Johnny Levins combined for their third win in three meetings at Naas since the re-start on
Wednesday with Dark Magic (11/1).
The horse had refused to enter the stalls at the same venue the previous Saturday, but there were no problems this time and a very smart ride by O’Connor saw him collar Accladora (9/1) and favourite Mountain Fox (7/2) near the line.
In Britain, P.J. McDonald got off the mark for the week on Tuesday aboard Colony Queen (11/2) for Sam Gollings at Beverley. He followed up with an 84/1 double at Haydock on Thursday on Under The Stars (11/2) for Jim Tate, getting up by a neck, and Corked (12/1) in a ten-furlong handicap, beating a 15/8 favourite quite snugly.
McDonald is really hitting his stride and followed up with a 340/1 treble at Newmarket on Friday, Dark Regard (12/1) and Bondi Sands (11/4) for Mark Johnston, and Line of Reason (6/1) for Paul Midgley.
He made it seven for the week from just over 20 rides at Newcastle on Saturday on Toussarok (5/4f) for Mark Johnston. He travelled down to Newmarket for just one ride on Sunday but it was a fruitless journey, finishing last of six. Such are the fortunes of racing
Pat Dobbs (Enniscorthy) won on Grinling (8/1) for his boss, Richard Hannon, at Windsor on Monday night, getting up by a head on Rock of Fame (13/8f), and the two combined again to score at Haydock on Thursday with Fountain Cross (12/1).