10-1 shot makes it O’Brien flag day
Seamie Heffernan riding US Navy Flag (purple/white) wins The Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket racecourse yesterday AIDAN O’Brien crept ever closer to Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group/ Grade One wins in a year as US Navy Flag sprang a minor surprise in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
After stablemate Clemmie had earlier landed the Cheveley Park Stakes, O’Brien fielded four in the colts’ Group One, headed by Phoenix Stakes scorer Sioux Nation, who was sent off an 11-2 chance.
However, Ryan Moore’s mount never looked like taking a hand in the finish as 10-1 shot US Navy Flag kicked on again for Seamie Heffernan after racing prominently through the early stages.
Only stablemate Fleet Review (25-1) got within striking distance, eventually going down by half a length, with Mark Johnston’s Cardsharp (14-1) a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
US Navy Flag’s success represented O’Brien’s 20th victory at the highest level this term and the War Front colt could get another shot at Group One glory back at Newmarket next month.
O’Brien said: “This horse won very easily the last day. He is a very solid horse and he is a brother to Roly Poly. He is out of a Galileo mare and they just don’t give up. He takes his racing well and is progressing with every run.
“He is long and he is powerful. I think he will go down the sprinting route, but there is nothing to say he won’t get seven furlongs. Trainer Aidan O’Brien
“He is a hardy horse that is progressing, and when horses are like that you can keep going with them if they want to go, and I wouldn’t rule out the Dewhurst with him.
“Seamie said he really wanted it and when he asked him, his head went out and down.
“It is great for everyone and there’s a lot of hard work by a great team of people. “
On runner-up Fleet Review, O’Brien added: “He ran a stormer. Donnacha (O’Brien) wanted to ride him as he had won twice on him. He really came together. He has plenty of speed and he travelled well.”
Mark Johnston was pleased with the effort of Cardsharp and could look to the Breeders’ Cup meeting now, although he admits his charge sometimes presents a challenge.
He said: “It was a great run, but he is very frustrating horse. I didn’t think 14-1 was justified as he has never run a bad race and has been there in the best company, and been up there every time.
“He is extremely badly behaved prerace and that is the worst he has been today.
“He has actually run his best races when he has behaved worse. So, we don’t really know what that means. When he came back in to be unsaddled, he was none too keen on that either. One suspects that he isn’t taking too much out of himself in his races.
“He is just frustrating as he looks like he has a little up his sleeve. He very much has his own ideas about the game, but he is fine at home.
“We will keep an open mind. He is in the Dewhurst and the Breeders’ Cup was suggested for him a while back.
“We will just go and have another look at that because the valets have to saddle them over there – that’s the big attraction!”