Blinding from Minding as O’Brien closes in on record Group One haul
MINDING capped an incredible season for trainer Aidan O’Brien with victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot — and the good news is that he will be training her again next year.
The half-length victory for the daughter of Galileo was a seventh at Group One level and fifth of a season which started with success in the 1,000 Guineas on May 1. In between there have been wins at a mile and a quarter, as well as at a mile and a half in the Oaks at Epsom.
Alone, Minding has supplied almost a quarter of O’Brien’s 21 Group One successes on the Flat this year. With one to add over jumps, she will be largely responsible for O’Brien breaking the record of 25 Group One wins in a year, which is held by late US trainer Bobby Frankel, if the next few weeks pan out as the Irishman hopes.
Little wonder he described Minding, the first filly to win the QEII Stakes since Milligram in 1987, as ‘incredible’ before adding that he hoped she would still be around in 2017. O’Brien will get his wish.
M V Magnier, speaking on behalf of the Coolmore Stud partners who own Minding, said: ‘We will keep her in training as long as everything is all right with her. We will give her the chance to win another ther five Group Ones!’
Victory in the QEII Stakes was sealed with a decisive move two furlongs out under Ryan Moore, surprisingly riding his first Champions Day winner. She surgedd clear of runner-up Ribchester. Galileo Gold, the 2,000 Guineas winner, again pulled too hard and blew his chance. Franki Frankie Dettori’s fifthfifth-placed mount wa was already co cooked when he was bumped by fourth-placed A Awtaad. Great though s she is, Minding ca cannot claim to be the best horse in Eu Europe. That title surely li lies with Almanzor after his decisive two-length success from O’Brien’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Found.
So on top was the 11-8 favourite, who also beat Found in the Irish Champion Stakes in September and landed the French Derby in June, that jockey Christophe Soumillon put down his whip and concentrated on patting his mount down the neck in the last 50 yards.
Almanzor’s trainer JeanClaude Rouget had opted to miss the Arc but had no regrets. Rouget, who faces a BHA fine after an employee took a substance into Almanzor’s stable without the required permission, said: ‘It was always the plan to come here since the summer. I didn’t change my mind and I’m glad I didn’t.’
Minding had finished three and a half lengths behind Almanzor in the Irish Champion. Their re-match next year will be a race to savour.
Group One chances have been growing on trees this year for Moore and Dettori has had his share, winning yesterday’s Filly & Mares on John Gosden’s Journey.
But for Tom Queally, however, top-level rations have been meagre.
Success on the James Fanshawe-trained The Tin Man was his first Group One since partnering Frankel to win the 2012 Champion Stakes. And Queally said: ‘You can’t beat a spell in the doldrums to get a bit of hunger.’