TOP MARK’S FOR O’BRIEN
THERE was no mistaken identity this time for Aidan O’brien when St Mark’s Basilica, under a confident Frankie Dettori, gave the trainer a seventh victory in yesterday’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
Victory was a welcomed change of fortune for O’brien after two of his runners at Newmarket on Friday ran under their wrong names.
O’brien also saddled the runner-up, Wembley, with his son Joseph responsible for the third home, Thunder Moon, the 11-4 favourite.
“He didn’t put a foot wrong and did everything I asked him too,” said Dettori. “He should have no problem handling the Guineas and deserves a crack at it.”
As expected, the bookmakers slashed St Mark’s Basilica’s odds for the Classic. The majority of firms have the colt at 10-1, from 25-1, behind Thunder Moon who oddly remains the 7-1 favourite.
O’brien had hoped to run St Mark’s Basilica at Longchamp last Sunday but was forced to withdraw the colt over issues with contaminated feed, along with his four intended Arc runners.
“It was one of those weeks but that’s the way the cards have fallen for us all week,” said O’brien whose operation has now clearly returned to normal service.
“That’s the way it is. We do our best to try to make it happen but there are things that happen beyond our control.
Later, Great White Shark landed first prize in the Cesarewitch.
It was a third successive victory for Willie Mullins and second for Jason Watson, who partnered Stratum for Mullins last year.