Tag Archive for: Aidan O’Brien

Frescobaldi helps Ryan Moore reach century of York winners

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Ryan Moore secured his 100th winner at York aboard Frescobaldi in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes.

It has not been the week many expected for Moore, with dual Derby hero Lambourn and Eclipse winner Delacroix both suffering defeat.

However, he did steer the Richard Hughes-trained Star Of Mehmas to a lucrative handicap success on Wednesday and having made it 99 course winners when getting back in the Group One-winning groove on Minnie Hauk in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks, he reached the landmark on Friday.

Frescobaldi, fifth at the Curragh and second at Fairyhouse on his two previous starts for Aidan O’Brien, was sent off at 100-30 to make it third time lucky in what is traditionally one of the strongest maidens of the season, with a total prize fund of £100,000 up for grabs.

Always to the fore, Frescobaldi was coaxed to the front approaching the final furlong and knuckled down well for pressure to see off the challenge of promising newcomer Spyce by three-quarters of a length.

On reaching his century on the Knavesmire, Moore said: “I’ve always enjoyed riding at York, it’s a great racecourse and hopefully we can keep coming back here.”

Minnie Hauk hits another winning note in Yorkshire Oaks

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Minnie Hauk completed an Oaks four-timer with a neat victory in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

One of two runners for Aidan O’Brien in the Group One feature, the daughter of Frankel came into the York Group One with Cheshire, English and Irish renewals on her CV this term and was ridden by Ryan Moore as the 8-15 favourite.

Her stablemate Garden Of Eden set the pace and David O’Meara’s Estrange did ensure the winner had a race, but the triumph was ultimately light work by three and a half lengths on the line.

O’Brien said: “She’s beautiful, she does everything right, she cruises, she’s a lovely mover and obviously the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup Turf, all those races are there for her.

Minnie Hauk adds the Yorkshire Oaks to her haul
Minnie Hauk adds the Yorkshire Oaks to her haul (PA)

“Ryan said the (Breeders’ Cup) Turf, so she’s obviously given him an unbelievable feel. Ryan gave her a class ride, he was very cool on her. She is classy and he gave her a very confident ride.

“It wasn’t going to be a Mickey Mouse race today, they were going to go an even gallop without going crazy. Ryan has always said the stronger the tempo, the better we’re going to see.

“She’s very exciting.”

O’Brien – who saw Delacroix and dual Derby winner Lambourn suffer defeat on Wednesday – went on: “We’ve always felt the better the race the better she’ll be.

“It was good for Ryan, he had a tough day yesterday and things didn’t work out but the professional that he is he didn’t flinch.

“It was a nicely-run race, even though there were only four in it, I think the second is a nice filly, isn’t she.

“She’s won well in the end our filly, she obviously stays very well and always finishes her race off well. She doesn’t kill herself getting there but she’s always finishing.

“She has to be close to the top of our pecking order for the Arc, she’s an improving filly at this time of year.

“She could go to the Breeders’ Cup Turf but also the Arc. Whirl could go with her.

“Whirl could go to the Vermeille or Irish Champion, but there’s a good chance Delacroix goes back to the Irish Champion and if John (Gosden) brings his horse (Ombudsman) it will be great.”

Queen Camilla with the connections of Minnie Hauk
Queen Camilla with the connections of Minnie Hauk (Richard Hauk/PA)

Co-owner Michael Tabor said: “I think she won very comfortably, she’s obviously very good and looking forward maybe she will run in the Arc or the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully we can keep her in training as a four-year-old and enjoy her.

“There’s no secret to the success. First of all we have a very good trainer but we try to breed the best to the best as we all do, like Godolphin and Juddmonte. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

“Yesterday was not a disaster, but it was tough. It’s tough when you lose which is why you have to appreciate when you win because it is not easy.

“Minnie Hauk beat Whirl at Epsom and dare I say their next races will be the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup for one or the other and hopefully they’ll have good chances in those races.”

Minnie Hauk at concert pitch for Yorkshire Oaks date

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Minnie Hauk bids to win a fourth different Oaks in the Pertemps Network-sponsored Yorkshire version on Thursday.

Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel filly has been outstanding so far this season, collecting three successive Oaks titles starting with the Listed Cheshire contest, before adding Classic strikes in both the Epsom and Curragh editions.

Now she turns her attention to the Knavesmire, with only three rivals opting to take her on in the mile-and-a-half Group One – including Ribblesdale-winning stablemate Garden Of Eden.

“This was always the obvious place to bring Minnie Hauk after the Curragh and she seems in good form since then,” said O’Brien.

“The trip and ground are perfect for her and since the Irish Oaks everything has gone well with her.

“Garden Of Eden won the Ribblesdale and then we sent her for the German Oaks but that didn’t work out.

“She was drawn very badly and she just never really got into it, it never happened.”

Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen was eighth behind Minnie Hauk in the Oaks at Epsom, the only real blip in a consistent career thus far that includes a Group Two success in the Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp last time out.

“Qilin Queen is a lovely filly who has done nothing wrong in her career,” the trainer said.

“The Oaks was the only bad run in her career and I think you can put that down to the soft ground and she probably wasn’t that happy on the track.

“However, on top of the ground she’s really not put a foot wrong and we know she stays the trip well.

“She will have to step forward significantly to challenge this lot, but she’s entitled to.”

David O’Meara’s Estrange is the other British-trained entrant, a striking grey who has won both starts this season when taking the Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes and then the Lancashire Oaks.

She steps up to the top level, although connections are prepared to make a late call on her participation on the Knavesmire, eager to ensure an easier surface for the four-year-old.

“We’ll have a chat to connections tonight and see what they think,” said O’Meara at York on Wednesday.

“I walked it on Monday and I thought they had put plenty of water on and it felt good to soft. The (slow) times (today) could be a little bit of headwind affecting them as much as anything else but I thought they had watered very well.”

Leopardstown option for Delacroix following York eclipse

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Aidan O’Brien could target Irish Champion Stakes compensation with Delacroix after he came off second best in his rematch with Ombudsman in the Juddmonte International at York.

The Ballydoyle runner bounced back from Derby disappointment to win a pulsating renewal of the Eclipse in early July, coming from an unpromising position to somehow grab victory from the jaws of defeat at the chief expense of Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor Ombudsman in a Sandown thriller.

The latter was the 7-4 favourite to gain his revenge in what turned out to be an even more fascinating affair on the Knavesmire, with Ombudsman’s pacemaker Birr Castle slipping the field and building up a huge lead over the chasing pack.

The big two eventually wore him down, but it was John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman who was three and a half lengths clear at the line, with Delacroix only beating 150-1 shot Birr Castle to the runner-up spot by half a length.

O’Brien said: “It was just a mess really wasn’t it? We had discussed before the race that if the pacemaker went and nobody followed him we would follow him, so obviously when they jumped out Ryan (Moore) thought they were going to follow the pacemaker but made the decision to sit in.

“Obviously when he sat in they just kept going slower and slower and slower and he was in a pocket and that was it, it was finished. It was over really as all they have done is sprint down the straight and the rest is history.

“Our horses usually like high-tempo races, but this was the way this time and John’s horse won and it was what he wanted. He got the result and we didn’t today.”

Delacroix’s defeat rounded off a disappointing day for O’Brien, having seen his dual Derby hero Lambourn finish only fifth in the preceding Great Voltigeur Stakes.

He added: “It happens every day of the week and it will happen again. Remember, you learn more from losing than winning.

“We learnt if he’s well we will go back to Leopardstown with Delacroix and hopefully this won’t happen again.

“This horse doesn’t mind making the running and has won from the front, so he would be very happy doing that.”

Andrew Balding’s high-class mare See The Fire finished fourth, with Japanese raider Danon Decile – making his first appearance since beating last month’s King George hero Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic in April – ultimately disappointing in fifth.

Trainer Shogo Yasuda said: “We couldn’t show his real ability, but this experience will be great for the future. I’m sorry we couldn’t show his true ability.

“We may have got it wrong, but we got great support and we want to thank them for that. Especially James Horton (who has had the horse stabled at his yard) and many other people who were really important for helping us while we were here.

“It was really unfortunate we couldn’t show himself at his best for everyone.”

Last of all in sixth was Francis-Henri Graffard’s previously unbeaten French challenger Daryz.

There was some confusion as to whether the three-year-old’s rider Mickael Barzalona had weighed in afterwards, prompting an objection from the clerk of the scales, but it was eventually confirmed he had and the result stood.

Graffard said: “He lacked experience during the race. He was racing strongly on the bridle and looking at everything. He picked up really nicely but then just got tired late on.

“We’ll see how he comes back and make a plan.”

Aidan O’Brien still positive despite Lambourn’s Voltigeur defeat

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Aidan O’Brien was not too despondent after watching his dual Derby winner Lambourn trail home in fifth place in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur at York.

A mildly surprising winner at Epsom, he then doubled up at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent and despite giving weight away all round to his rivals, he was sent off the 4-5 favourite to confirm his position as the best mile-and-a-half colt of his generation.

However, Ryan Moore was hard at work from some way out as first stablemate Stay True loomed up looking a threat, before the Ballydoyle duo were swamped by Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras.

The winner had scored impressively in the Dante at the track in May but finished well behind Lambourn at both Epsom and the Curragh and had subsequently been gelded.

O’Brien fielded four in the Group Two and they filled the final four positions.

Lambourn is now 5-1 for the St Leger with Coral as his stable companion Scandinavia hardened to 4-5 favourite for the final Classic.

“He went grand, they went steady and he’s lazy, I think it was a steadily-run race,” said O’Brien of Lambourn.

“All of them ran grand. The reason we ran Lambourn here was so that he had the option of either the Leger or the Arc.

“I don’t think the Leger trip will be a problem, we know he stays a mile and a half well.

“Ryan (Moore) said he felt like he got a little but tired but we’ll see how he is.

“Stay True ran a lovely race, he’s always looked a lovely horse for the Leger so it looks like he’ll be happy doing that.”

One horse who enhanced his reputation despite losing his unbeaten record was the Paddy Twomey-trained Carmers, the Queen’s Vase winner from Royal Ascot who was dropping in trip.

He got caught flat-footed when the pace quickened before staying on for second, beaten a length.

“He maybe didn’t get the run of the race but I think it was a very good trial for the Leger,” said Twomey.

“I think he’s learned more today than he had in any race he won. It’s a big run and back up to the mile and six (furlongs) will suit him.

“I don’t think the ground makes any difference to him.”

Lambourn still ‘definitely’ in the Voltigeur mix, says O’Brien

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Aidan O’Brien is giving serious consideration to running his dual Derby winner Lambourn in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York next week.

The Australia colt emulated his sire by striking Classic gold at Epsom and the Curragh in June and is now ready to step up his preparations for a major autumn target.

For a long time another Classic bid in the St Leger at Doncaster seemed likely, but with stablemate Scandinavia throwing his hat into that particular ring with victory in the Goodwood Cup, Lambourn may instead be bound for Paris and a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

When asked whether Lambourn could step back to Group Two level on the Knavesmire, O’Brien told Sky Sports Racing: “He could, we’ve a lot of horses kind of ready for the Voltigeur, some are just about ready and some are probably not going to make it.

“Lambourn definitely could. We’ll see how he is and his next target then can be either the Leger or the Arc. I think the lads are thinking Scandinavia is going to be trained for the Leger now – if the ground was nice he would go there and Lambourn wouldn’t go there, but if it was the other way Lambourn would go there.

“Lambourn probably needs a race between now and the Leger or the Arc and it (Great Voltigeur) is a race that could suit him.

“He’s a straightforward, honest, no-nonsense horse. He does what he has to do and doesn’t do any more.”

Another Ballydoyle inmate with Arc aspirations is last year’s third Los Angeles, who made an excellent start to his campaign with successive wins at the Curragh but could finish only fifth as a hot favourite for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Los Angeles and Ryan Moore after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Los Angeles and Ryan Moore after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Niall Carson/PA)

Having since enjoyed a mid-season break, he is set to return to competitive action in the Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

“We were thinking he could go to the Royal Whip and go and improve a lot,” O’Brien added.

“He’s had a break since Ascot and we were thinking if he went to the Curragh this weekend he could go to the Prix Foy as an Arc trial or he could go to the Irish Champion Stakes as an Arc trial.

“All those things are open, but he’s just starting back and he’ll be running with no pressure win, lose or draw (this weekend). We’d just like to get a run into him to get him ready for the autumn.

“The Arc has been his target all the time. We tightened him up a bit too much in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and because of that he just had to have a little rest. He’s come back happy, but will progress a lot before the Arc.”

O’Brien also had news of Henri Matisse, last seen finishing third in the Sussex Stakes behind shock 150-1 winner Qirat.

O’Brien said: “He’ll go probably for the Prix du Moulin. Goodwood was a little bit of a disaster – it was really only a four-furlong dash in the second half of the race.

“It was one of those races that is hard to work out, but we were very happy with the run, Ryan (Moore) was very happy with him and we think he’s still progressing.

“We haven’t seen the best of him yet, we think.”

Eclipse injury forces Camille Pissarro retirement

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Prix du Jockey Club winner Camille Pissarro has been retired due to an injury sustained while running in the Coral-Eclipse.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the Wootton Bassett colt also won at the highest level as a juvenile when taking the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere by a neck from Rashabar.

Third to stablemate Henri Matisse in the French 2000 Guineas, the step up in trip suited him in the French Derby and stud plans will be announced shortly.

O’Brien told Coolmore: “Camille Pissarro pulled a shoe at Sandown and was quite sore afterwards.

“We had him X-rayed, and a fissure fracture was found in his fetlock. The decision was then made to retire him.

“Camille Pissarro was an extremely classy colt; he had speed and class. He won the Lagardere on Arc weekend last year at two, and then he showed everyone how good he was in the French Derby. He was very classy.”

O’Brien has Champions Weekend in mind for Montreal

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Montreal, a hugely impressive eight-length winner at Leopardstown on Thursday, is heading to the Irish Champions Festival weekend.

Aidan O’Brien’s superbly-bred Sea The Stars colt stepped up markedly on his debut effort, putting his race to bed in a matter of strides for Wayne Lordan.

He holds an entry in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 14 over seven furlongs, while the day-earlier KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes over a mile could also come into the equation back at Leopardstown.

“He’d improved from his debut at Leopardstown when he was very green and finished third,” said O’Brien.

“We like him and he showed what we thought he might when he wasn’t as green, he was impressive.

“I think he could go back to Leopardstown on Champions Weekend, something like that might be next.”

O’Brien also confirmed the departure of two smart three-year-olds from his ranks, with Irish Derby runner-up Serious Contender sold to race in Hong Kong and Hampton Court Stakes winner Trinity College also on the move.

The trainer said: “Serious Contender’s form is excellent and obviously we’re sorry to see him go. He’s a good horse and will do very well.

“We thought he couldn’t get beat in Ascot (when second to Merchant) and then the one that beat us was entered in the King George.

“Trinity College has gone to Australia.”

Diamond Necklace sparkles on debut for O’Brien

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Aidan O’Brien is harbouring Group One hopes for Diamond Necklace after a straightforward success over a better-fancied stablemate in the Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race at the Curragh.

A St Mark’s Basilica half-sister to top-level scorers Chicquita and Magic Wand, Diamond Necklace was sent off a 9-1 shot under Wayne Lordan on her debut, with Ryan Moore opting to ride Minerva instead.

Moore’s mount raced prominently throughout and as Diamond Necklace really hit her stride in the closing stages, Minerva had no answer and had to settle for a length-and-a-half defeat.

O’Brien is anticipating plenty of progress from the winner and said: “She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree.

“Her dad didn’t win a maiden for another three weeks so that’s St Mark’s Basilica for you. He went on to win the Dewhurst and how he improved from two to three was incredible.

“She could end up being one for the Fillies’ Mile with maybe a run or two in between. She’s going to be lovely next year.”

Paddy Power make Diamond Necklace a 25-1 chance for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

O’Brien and Moore had claimed the preceding Audi Naas Irish EBF Maiden in style as Mission Central (4-1) galloped home eight lengths clear of Chicago Pope.

The son of No Nay Never was out of the places on his initial outing in April but O’Brien felt a subsequent gelding operation had the desired effect.

He said: “We ran him in Dundalk the first day and he was a bit worse than green, so that’s why we took him home and gelded him.

“He’s been perfect since and we’ll go up to a Listed or Group race with him next time. He’s a very quick horse.”

Geryon sprang an 18-1 surprise for Ger Lyons in the opening Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Maiden, although the trainer was not shocked to see Colin Keane’s mount prevail.

He said: “We have two colts that we like, this fella and Res Ipsa who ran at Leopardstown on Thursday. Res Ipsa fluffed his lines so I suppose it took away confidence and hence his starting price, but they are two similar horses.

“You would like to think there would be plenty of improvement as it was his first day away from Glenburnie and first day on turf.

“The best-looking horse I had by Lope de Vega was Endless Drama, who was second in the Guineas, and this is the second best one I’ve had by him. He’s a very good-looking colt.”

Gstaad given Prix Morny option after missing Phoenix

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Gstaad could be rerouted to the Prix Morny at Deauville after bypassing Saturday’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s Coventry Stakes winner was due to clash with his fellow Royal Ascot-winning stablemate True Love in the Curragh Group One but the handler was not totally satisfied with Gstaad’s condition on Friday.

After overnight monitoring, O’Brien opted to declare Gstaad a non-runner and as long as the son of Starspangledbanner returns to form in the coming days, he could seek consolation in the French Group One on August 24.

O’Brien said: “He had no temperature and everything was right, but he didn’t eat up.

“Looking at that type of thing, he could have a temperature tomorrow and if he has a temperature tomorrow, every hour he has a temperature he needs a week off.

“If he doesn’t have a temperature and nothing is wrong in the next few days he’ll go to Deauville for the Morny.

“The original plan for the filly (True Love) was to go for the Morny. I don’t know why I left her in (the Phoenix Stakes) but there was something in my head and that’s what happened and how it is.

“Sometimes when you are looking at them every day it’s a feeling you get.”

Gstaad ruled out of Phoenix clash

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Impressive Royal Ascot winner Gstaad has been ruled out of this afternoon’s Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien had warned on Friday that the Coventry Stakes scorer had been “a little bit quiet” after his exercise in the morning but he had hoped it was nothing too serious.

Gstaad was due to clash with fellow Royal Ascot winner and stablemate True Love but news came through on Saturday morning that Gstaad was off his feed.

That means O’Brien now relies on True Love and Puerto Rico.

O’Brien’s son Joseph fields the main danger in Green Sense, winner of the Prix Robert Papin last time out and a late absentee from the Ballyhane Stakes on Monday.

He said: “We’re happy with her off the back of a good run.

“It looks a strong renewal of the race, obviously, if dad’s two turn up.

“We’re hoping for a good run from her, and it would be great if she could get Group One-placed.”

Power Blue has not dodged anyone all season finishing fifth in the Coventry and third in the Railway, so Adrian Murray’s colt faces a tall order in his bid to give the yard a second win in the race in three years.

Murray said: “This looks a tough race for Power Blue, but he’s been running well in all the big races and he’s danced all the dances.

“He’s in great form so we’ll let him take his chance. We’ll see if Aidan runs both his big guns, you never know.

“We won this with Bucanero Fuerte two years ago and he would have the edge at the same stage. Power Blue is a very nice horse, but Bucanero just always had that touch of class, he’s a Group One winner.”

Power Blue is owned by Amo Racing as is the final runner in the field, David Loughnane’s Do Bronxs.

2025 Phoenix Stakes Trends

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Run on Saturday 9th Aug 2025 at the Curragh racecourse, Ireland, the Phoenix Stakes is a Group One contest run over 6f and in recent times has been dominated by a certain Aidan O’Brien, who’s landed the prize a staggering 17 times since 1998.

We look back at past winners and highlight the key trends to apply to the race.

Recent Phoenix Stakes Winners

2024 - Babouche (5/2)
2023 - Bucanero Fuerte (9/4)
2022 - Little Big Bear (13/8)
2021 – Ebro River (12/1)
2020 - Lucky Vega (4/1)
2019 - Siskin (10/11 fav)
2018 – Advertise (11/10 fav)
2017 – Sioux Nation (2/1)
2016 – Caravaggio (1/8 fav)
2015 – Air Force Blue (9/4)
2014 – Dick Whittington (6/1)
2013 – Sudirman (4/1)
2012 – Pedro The Great (10/1)
2011 – La Collina (33/1)
2010 – Zoffany (3/1)
2009 – Alfred Nobel (5/4 fav)
2008 – Mastercraftsman (4/1)
2007 – Saoirse Abu (25/1)
2006 – Holy Roman Emperor (13/8 jfav)
2005 – George Washington (8/13 fav)
2004 – Damson (8/11 fav)
2003 – One Cool Cat (11/8)
2002 – Spartacus (16/1)


Phoenix Stakes Key Trends

22/23 – Had won over 6 or 7f before
22/23 – Had run in a Group race before
21/23 – Won by an Irish-based trainer
21/23 – Finished in the top two last time out
20/23 – Previous winners over 6f
17/23 – Had won at least two races before
17/23 – Returned 4/1 or shorter in the betting
16/23 – Placed favourites
15/23 – Had 3 or more previous runs that season
15/23 – Had won a Group 2 or 3 before
14/23 – Had won at the Curragh before
14/23 – Ran at the Curragh last time out
13/23 – Winning distance of 1 length or less
13/23 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (6 of the last 13) (17 in total)
10/23 – Won by either a March or April foal
7/23 – Winning favourites
7/23 – Won by a March foal
5/23 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
3/23 – Ran Leopardstown last time out
2/23 – Ridden by Shane Foley (2 of last 5 runnings)
Trainer Ger Lyons has won 2 of the last 6
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 11/4
Caravaggio (2016) was the last Coventry Stakes winner to win the Phoenix Stakes

 

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Scandinavia and Lambourn lead 26 St Leger hopefuls

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Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia heads 26 entries for the Betfred St Leger, the final Classic of the season to be run at Doncaster on September 13.

Aidan O’Brien dominates the potential field numerically with 11 possible runners hailing from his Ballydoyle yard.

Justify colt Scandinavia has been a relatively late bloomer, finishing fifth to Carmers in the Queen’s Vase at Ascot before winning the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

He stepped into open company at Goodwood last week and despite being overlooked by Ryan Moore in favour of Illinois, ran out the winner.

His dual Derby-winning stablemate Lambourn would be another huge player if he turns up, as would Whirl, winner of last week’s Nassau Stakes over 10 furlongs at Goodwood.

Galveston, Oaks victor Minnie Hauk, Mount Kilimanjaro, Puppet Master, Saratoga, Shackleton, Stay True and Thrice are other Ballydoyle possibles.

Carmers could have a trip to Yorkshire before his big day, with Paddy Twomey considering the Great Voltigeur Stakes for his prep – or he could stay closer to home.

“if he runs (beforehand) it will be either in the Great Voltigeur or the Vinnie Roe (at Leopardstown) and then the Leger,” said Twomey.

“Those two races are within a day of each other so we’ll see which race looks more suitable.”

Other notable entries include Charlie Johnston’s Lazy Griff, placed in the Derby at Epsom and the Irish equivalent, Tennessee Stud and Arabian Force.

Gordon Stakes victor Merchant was not entered by William Haggas.

Action another ace in O’Brien’s juvenile pack

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Action put himself in line for some big targets later in the campaign as he shed his maiden tag on the penultimate day of the Galway Festival.

A Frankel half-brother to this year’s dual Derby hero Lambourn, Action finished behind his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemates New Zealand and Isaac Newton on his initial run, with the latter boosting the form when prevailing at Goodwood just moments before the Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Maiden.

Sent off the 4-9 favourite in the hands of Wayne Lordan, Action was a length and a quarter too good for Perisher and Group race targets could now be on the horizon, with Paddy Power making him a 33-1 shot for next year’s Derby.

Action and jockey Wayne Lordan after winning the Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Maiden
Action and jockey Wayne Lordan after winning the Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Maiden (PA)

O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong said: “Wayne knows the family inside out and they have been very good to him.

“He is a smashing colt, he had a lovely run at the Curragh first time out and just five minutes before this race jumped off, the horse that beat him, Isaac Newton, won at Goodwood, so I’d say it was a very strong maiden.

“It was his first time out in front and he was very green and raw but once Wayne asked him, he found the line well. You probably won’t see the best of him until he goes up in trip and he is now in the mix for something like the Golden Fleece on Irish Champions Weekend and then maybe a Futurity Trophy (at Doncaster) or another Group One in France.”

Winning Smut and jockey Jack Kennedy on their way to Galway glory
Winning Smut and jockey Jack Kennedy on their way to Galway glory (PA)

Gordon Elliott added the BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle to his big-race tally this week as Winning Smut repelled all challengers in the Listed highlight.

The Cullentra handler had already bagged the Galway Plate and Hurdle, courtesy of Western Fold on Wednesday and Ndaawi on Thursday, and Winning Smut was sent off the 13-2 joint-favourite to keep the bandwagon rolling.

Partnered by Jack Kennedy, Winning Smut was in front turning for home and while Fascile Mode, Chart Topper and Teed Up made late bids for glory, Elliott’s charge had two and a quarter lengths in hand at the line.

Elliott’s representative Lisa O’Neill said: “We didn’t know how good he was coming into this but he scraped in down the bottom of the weights and having a feather weight in those competitive handicaps helps. Jack gave him a beautiful ride up the inside and said he got there too soon but he toughed it out well.

Winning Smut and connections in the winner's enclosure
Winning Smut and connections in the winner’s enclosure (PA)

“It is great for his owners (Dennis Reddan) as they have been in racing for a long, long time and they are delighted to have a winner here at Galway. He is a homebred so it means so much to them and hopefully there is plenty more for him over the coming months.”

Some Pretender (evens favourite) made a winning racecourse debut in the Salthill Hotel Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race, while Andrew Slattery chalked up his third win of the week as Ebony King (9-1) landed the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle.

Scandinavia sees off Illinois for Ballydoyle one-two in Goodwood Cup

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Scandinavia got the better of stablemate Illinois in a thrilling finish to the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes, in a race overshadowed by a fatal injury to the veteran Trueshan.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained stable companions dominated the betting, so while Scandinavia was discarded by Ryan Moore, Wayne Lordan’s mount was still only a 4-1 shot following his victory in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

Illinois attempted to make all but Scandinavia drew upsides over a furlong out and the two had it between them, with the concession of 14lb ultimately proving too much for Moore’s mount, who went down by three-quarters of a length. Sweet William stayed on for a never-nearer third.

O’Brien immediately signalled the St Leger at Doncaster as the big aim for his winner.

“Wayne gave him a lovely ride – in the race at Ascot (Queen’s Vase) he was trapped six wide all the way and then at Newmarket Ryan said he felt like a very good horse,” he said.

“Illinois went out there in front and looked to have the race won, but then the other horse got him.

“We went to the Gold Cup (with Illinois) without a preparation and I know we haven’t seen the best of him.

“Scandinavia is a typical Justify, he just won’t lie down, he puts his head down and won’t be beaten.

Winning connections following the Goodwood Cup
Winning connections following the Goodwood Cup (PA)

“Lambourn didn’t go to the King George as we had one eye on York for him. It’s all out in the open and this horse is ready made for the Leger, which is where he will go.

“He (Scandinavia) travelled very well through the race, he has a great mind. Lambourn can go for the Voltigeur and then maybe for the Arc.”

O’Brien was also pleased with the performance of the runner-up, feeling his best is still to come.

He added: “I thought Ryan did everything perfect today on Illinois. He was out there and had the race won, and then the other horse just came and got him.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Illinois yet because I think we went to the Gold Cup a year too early and his preparation wasn’t right to win a Gold Cup.

“He ran an unbelievable race, and he’ll have the rest of the season, but often when that happens it can stop the progression you would really want to come. I really think we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”

Alan King’s hugely popular Trueshan, winner of the race in 2021, was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle at halfway, with news sadly emerging his injury had proved to be a fatal one.

Of the placed horses, Josh Gosden said of Sweet William: “He ran a very brave race and we couldn’t be more pleased with him. He’ll go to York and Doncaster now.

“A galloping track suits him, maybe a fiddly one like this doesn’t. Aidan’s runners controlled the early easy fractions. When they do that they are very hard to catch.”

Sunway was for fourth for locally-based David Menuisier, who said: “He was beaten fair and square, but he stays well and did his best. There was no excuse. He is just behind the best at a mile and a half to two miles. As long as Aidan turns up we will be settling for the places. I am thinking he could go for the Prix Kergorlay and maybe the Cadran, try to meet the French rather than the British.”