Winter blast seals double for O’Brien

Winter can put me in wonderland, says Aidan

OWNER Michael Tabor conceded taking on Aidan O’Brien must be ‘soul-destroying’ after Winter led home a one- two in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas to cap a weekend of domination by the Irish trainer.

The only unexpected aspect in the result of the first fillies’ Classic of the season at Newmarket was that 9-1 shot Winter beat stablemate and Ryan Moore-ridden 5-4 favourite Rhododendron.

The latter was slightly hampered, partly by O’Brien’s fading third runner Hydrangea, just over a furlong out.

But the loss of momentum was not the difference between success and failure for Rhododendron, even though she powered to the line to cut the winning margin to two lengths and pinch the runner- up berth from John Gosden’s Frankie Dettori-ridden Daban.

Winter, a first Classic win for 35- year- old jockey Wayne Lordan, was trained last year by David Wachman, who retired at the end of the season. Some of O’Brien’s rivals could be forgiven if they felt like following Wachman’s lead.

After O’Brien’s record-breaking eighth win in the 2,000 Guineas with Churchill on Saturday, the man crowned British champion trainer for the fifth time last year, with 23 Group One wins worldwide, completed the Guineas double for the third time.

Minutes before Winter’s success, O’Brien had bagged a 1-2-3 with Douglas Macarthur, Yucatan and Capri in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. That clean sweep was added to O’Brien’s win in the Jockey Club Stakes with Seventh Heaven and yesterday’s Dahlia Stakes with Somehow.

Tabor, part of the Coolmore Stud team of owners who provide O’Brien (left) with the equine ammunition he fires so accurately, said: ‘We know this game can turn very quickly, but at the moment we’ll take it.

‘It’s a bit like fiction. I’m sure there will be some competition over the next few months. It will get harder. I feel for the opposition. I can imagine it being soul-destroying, but they have been in the game a long time and know that, in life, nothing lasts forever.’

The biggest challenge facing O’Brien, Tabor and his fellow Coolmore owners John Magnier and Derrick Smith, will be how to play their cards. It will be a surprise if Winter does not stick to a mile and head for the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Rhododendron, with her strong finish, emerges as a big contender for next month’s Oaks at Epsom.

Key will be whether to aim Churchill at the mile-and-a-half Derby or keep him to a mile.

That will be influenced by the results of the upcoming Derby trials, with O’Brien’s widely touted Cliffs of Moher looking likely to make his seasonal debut in the Dee Stakes at Chester on Friday. HEARTBREAK CITY, the winner of last season’s Ebor Handicap and runner-up in the Melbourne Cup for trainer Tony Martin, has died after breaking a leg on the gallops. Season’s best: Winter wins, as predicted by O’Brien in Sportsmail