Moore wings in for Curragh test

FRESH from emerging as the top trainer at Royal Ascot for the eighth time and third year in succession, Aidan O’Brien said Wings Of Eagles could lead a five-strong challenge for Saturday’s Irish Derby at the Curragh. But it looks certain that the Investec Derby winner will be ridden by Ryan Moore in his quest for a second Classic, rather than Padraig Beggy, the man on board when the colt sprang a 40-1 shock at t Epsom, but who is mainly a Ballydoyle work rider. r. O’Brien (right) ran six x in the Derby — Wings Of Eagles and Cliffs Of Moher as well as Capri (sixth), Douglas Macarthur (seventh), Venice Beach (12th ) and The Anvil (17th). The only one of that sextant ruled out of the Irish Derby by O’Brien is Cliffs Of Moher, who is on course for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown a week on Saturday. O’Brien said: ‘Cliffs Of Moher is being aimed at the Eclipse but that’s what we’d be thinking during the week if everything is OK with them. We will find out what we want to run first before we decide what will happen, but Ryan always rides our first strings.’ Moore also ended Royal Ascot with six wins, becoming top jockey for the seventh time in the last eight years. He is one short of 50 royal meeting wins. O’Brien is the most successful trainer in Irish Derby history with 11 wins, 10 this century. But he has notno won the race for the past t two years. Der Dermot Weld and Harzand co completed the English-Irish Derby double 12 months ago, as did John Gosden with Golden Horn and Jack H Hobbs in 2015. Gosden wil will be represented on Satur Saturday by Epsom Derby third Cracksman. O’Brien made it six winners at last week’s royal meeting when successful on Saturday with Idaho in the Hardwicke Stakes and September in the Chesham. The latter is 5-1 favourite for the 2017 1,000 Guineas and O’Brien said he would be aiming the daughter of Japanese stallion Deep Impact at the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.