Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Joy of six for champ Aidan
IDAHO and September capped another dominant Royal Ascot for Aidan O’Brien as the master of Ballydoyle ended the five-day fixture with six winners – and his eighth top-trainer award.
O’Brien, the leading trainer for the third year in a row, landed three Group 1’s – courtesy of Idaho’s brother Highland Reel, star sprinter
Caravaggio and dual 1,000 Guineas heroine Winter.
O’Brien said: “We try and have the horses ready – and then hope!
“You don’t expect anything, and we’re in a privileged position to be working with such horses.”
Punters sent Dartmouth off the 9-4 favourite to give the Queen her first winner of the meeting in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.
But the royal runner could manage just fourth as 9-2 shot Idaho, last year’s Derby third who unseated jockey Seamie Heffernan in the straight when the 4-6 favourite for the St Leger, pounced late to beat 20-1 chance Barsanti by half a length.
The stable’s September is now 5-1 favourite for next year’s 1,000 Guienas at Newmarket after posting an impressive win in the Listed Chesham Stakes.
“She’s a little doll of a thing, but she travelled like the winner throughout the race,” said winning jockey Ryan Moore, who took the jockey award with six winners.