Anthony Van Dyck eyes Derby double
Al l r o a d s a p p e a r t o l e a d t o the Curragh next for Aidan O’brien’s premier Epsom Classic protagonists Anthony Van Dyck and Pink Dogwood.
O ’ B r i e n h a s r e s t a t e d t h e plan is likely to be for Saturday’s Investec Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck to bid for a famous double in the Irish equivalent at the end of this month – while Oaks runnerup Pink Dogwood will be ready to take on open-age Group One company in the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes on 28 June.
Ballydoyle supplied five of the first six home from their seven contenders in the Derby, as O’brien to ok his win - n i n g t a l l y i n t h e g r e a t r a c e to a record- equalling seven. Reflecting on Anthony Van Dyck’s hard-fought half-length Epsom win from Kevin Prend e rg a s t ’s r u n n e r - u p Mad h - moon, O’brien confirmed the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is set to be the next target.
“I think the lads [Coolmore] had i t i n t h e i r h e a d t h a t h e w o u l d c o m e b a c k t o t h e Curragh if ever y thing went we l l ,” t h e t r a i n e r t o l d S k y Sports Racing.
“I h ave n’t s p o ke n t o th e m yet, and they’ll probably want to see how the horse is over the coming week and then make their plan – but I think that’s what they were thinking of at the moment.”
Pink Dogwood, beaten just a neck by Anapurna in the Oaks on Friday, is in line to drop back to ten furlongs.
“She seems to be fine – eve - ryone is happy with her,” said O’brien. “We were delighted. She might have a little easy time for a few days, and then she might be trained for the Pretty Polly.
“We’re lo oking for ward to going back racing at the Curragh. We’re thinking of something like that, but haven’t spoken to the lads yet. We think she’s a filly to look forward to for the rest of the year.”
Meanwhile, Sottsass sprang a surprise when outgunning Persian King to land the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club in record time at Chantilly yesterday.
Cristian Demuro brought the Jean- Claude Rouget-trained c o l t t o c h a l l e n g e t h e h o t favourite in the final furlong.
P e r s i a n K i n g h a d e v e r y chance of following up his victory in the French 2000 Guineas when taking the lead from Motamarris in the straight, but he just ran out of stamina in the closing stages.
Sottsas (10-1) came out of the pack to lay down the challenge to Andre Fabre’s Classic winner and asser ted in the final 10 0 met r es t o s c o r e by t wo lengths, giving Rouget a fourth French Derby triumph.