Oh yes... Churchill nails the record for O’Brien
CHURCHILL, the best two-year-old of 2016, showed he is still leader of the colt pack as he posted a record eighth win in the Qipco 2000 Guineas for trainer Aidan O’Brien at Newmarket.
With O’Brien having dominated last season with 23 Group One wins as he was crowned British champion trainer for the fifth time, it felt a little like Groundhog Day on the Rowley Mile yesterday, especially with Churchill’s stablemate Rhododendron hot favourite for this afternoon’s 1,000 Guineas.
O’Brien’s first win in the 2,000 Guineas came in 1998 with King of Kings and his latest success took him clear of the other trainer to win the first Classic of the season seven times, John Scott, the 19th century trainer dubbed The Wizard of The North in England.
While Churchill, winner of the Dewhurst Stakes here in October, didn’t show the same brilliance as O’Brien’s 2015 winner Gleneagles, there was a ruthless authority in the manner the Ryan Moore-ridden 6-4 favourite stormed up the rail to hold off Richard Hannon’s Barney Roy by a length with Andre Fabretrained French raider Al Wukair a neck back in third.
O’Brien, who was saddling his 26th winner of a British Classic, and his team also pulled off a tactical masterstroke.
While plenty had expected Churchill’s stablemate and eventual fourth Lancaster Bomber to bomb it from the front, O’Brien’s jockey son Donnacha set a steady early pace.
The resultant sprint to the line in the final quarter-mile did not suit Al Wukair and Frankel’s giant son Eminent, who was beaten just over three lengths in sixth.
Barney Roy and jockey James Doyle were also inconvenienced by a stumble a furlong and a half out.
Afterwards, O’Brien played down his achievement and admitted he had been nervous in the final buildup.
He said: ‘It was a worry coming here without a run and there were a lot of horses with a lot of solid form.
‘Donnacha rode Churchill almost every day during the winter. I’d been panicking in the last few days and said to him, “Should we be doing this?” He told me not to be talking nonsense. He was very happy so that was the answer I was hoping for.’
Moore, winning his second 2,000 Guineas and also successful on Permian and O’Brien’s Seventh Heaven in the Jockey Club Cup, said: ‘He fills me with confidence in the race. He feels magnificent every time I sit on him.’
Betfair now make Churchill 4-6 for the Irish 2,000 Guineas and 1110 for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Both races are run over the same mile as the Guineas. His odds for the Derby remain 6-1.
O’Brien added: ‘Galileo is a massive influence for stamina but he is out of a very fast mare. The lads will decide. They love the Epsom Derby. If everyone wants to go that way I’d be delighted.’
If Churchill does head to Royal Ascot, he’ll face a re-match with Barney Roy.