Iridessa is irresistible for O’Brien
JOSEPH O’BRIEN’S remarkable career in racing ticked off another first yesterday as his filly Iridessa won the Filly & Mare Turf race at the Breeders’ Cup in Santa Anita.
O’Brien became the youngest jockey to win a race at the prestigious meeting when successful on St Nicholas Abbey in the Turf in 2011. He can now lay claim to being the youngest trainer to score at the ‘world championship of racing’ after victory in the Grade 1 race that was worth over €1,125,000 to winning connections,
Iridessa had run in seven Group 1 races in Europe before this though, having won both the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September.
Sistercharlie was the 4-5 favourite but could only finish third as Iridessa came strongly down the home stretch under jockey Wayne Lordan – having his first Breeders’ Cup success – to hold off Vasilika by a neck.
O’Brien said afterwards: ‘I was very happy through the race. She had the pace to get a nice position, it’s not sunk in yet.’
It was the first victory for the European team and was a boost for the O’Brien family after dad Aidan had earlier seen his horse Fleeting ruled out of the race amid strict veterinary screening at this year’s meeting.
More than 30 vets were in action every day at under-scrutiny Santa Anita in California, where 35 horses have suffered fatal injuries since St Stephen’s Day.
Fleeting and the David O’Mearatrained Suedois, an entry in the Mile, were described as ‘slightly lame’. O’Brien Snr said: ‘We were happy with her but the vets weren’t. In an international jurisdiction you have to abide by their rules.’
O’Meara said Suedois had a hoof
infection, adding: ‘It was nothing much. He could run tomorrow – it’s just a question of timing.’
A total of five horses were ruled out at the Breeders’ Cup as a result of the strict inspections, including Imperial Hint, a leading hope for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The withdrawals added to the frustration after a winless first day for the Europeans. O’Brien’s Arizona, the Dewhurst Stakes runner-up, was unable to get into a challenging position as he finished fast for fifth after a slow start behind Chad Brown-trained Structor in the Juvenile Turf.
It was the same story for Jessica Harrington’s Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna, who was fourth to Sharing in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
At Down Royal, Noel Meade-trained Road To Respect won the Ladbroke Champion Chase for the second year running, pulling four lengths clear of Paul Nicholls-trained King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux from the final fence.
The Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby went to Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ballyoptic.