Tag Archive for: Aidan O’Brien

Rock Of Cashel gets his head in front for Navan victory

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Rock Of Cashel relished the drop in grade to get back to winning ways in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Navan.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old had been highly tried since winning a Galway maiden last season, running in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last autumn.

This term he has been campaigned in Group and Listed company before trying his hand in a handicap to no avail at Royal Ascot.

Against just three runners in this conditions race, however, he took command early in the straight under Wayne Lordan to down Johnny Murtagh’s 1-4 favourite Nautical Force by two lengths at 3-1.

O’Brien’s stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “The way the race worked out, it was a lovely race for him.

“In fairness to him, he has been dropped in the deep end from word go this year. He ran with credit behind Henri Matisse and Delacroix and was beaten five to six lengths behind proper Group One horses.

“Obviously, Johnny’s horse brought a high level of form here. Wayne gave him a lovely ride and the race worked out for him beautifully.

“He’s a horse we thought of as a stakes horse after Galway last year as a two-year-old, so hopefully this will do his confidence good and we will bring him back up to a stakes race over a mile and a-quarter and see how he goes.”

Murtagh had already been on the mark with newcomer Zuheila (5-2) in the Ardboyne Hotel Maiden.

Ben Coen nursed the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old into the closing stages before getting down to business to beat Ger Lyons’ Washington Street by half a length.

Coen said: “She’s a nice, big filly and bred to have a bit of speed. She has been doing things nice at home.

“You can see why she hasn’t got to the track until now, she’s a big girl but she did that nicely. She had a good look when she hit the front, but hopefully she can stay improving.

“She was (doing all her best work late) – she was green running down the hill and, when I hit the rising ground, she came good.”

‘She’s getting there’ – O’Brien confident January will get her day

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Aidan O’Brien could look to France for a Group One-winning opportunity for January after the filly narrowly missed out in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

In receipt of 9lb from the winner Cinderella’s Dream, the three-year-old January was beaten just half a length, adding another top-level placing to her record after taking third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Despite seeing his 6-4 favourite eclipsed, O’Brien is confident the Kingman filly is on the right track, with the Prix Rothschild at Deauville on August 3 pencilled in as a possible target.

O’Brien said: “She ran a lovely race, she is improving and we think there’s more improvement to come from her.

“She’s a lot of ability this filly and it’s coming. She’s definitely a miler – she’s quick. We’re getting there – she’s slowly getting closer.

“She ran a great race and we think we’re on the right road.

“There’s the fillies’ race in Deauville in a few weeks’ time, so we might look at that for her.”

Connections of Crimson Advocate also hope their filly will eventually strike Group One gold, having seen a length-and-three-quarters defeat of Cinderella’s Dream at Royal Ascot reversed off level weights here.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained runner was beaten two and a quarter lengths on the July course, with Richard Brown, the racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing, feeling the contest had perhaps not unfolded in her favour.

He said: “There wasn’t a huge amount of early pace and more pace would have meant she could have been snaffled into it a little bit more, but she’s run a very good race.

“We haven’t made any plans, we’ll go away and have a think about it.

“She’s run a great race and I hope she can have her day in one of these (Group Ones).”

Crimson Advocate is entered in both the seven-furlong Lennox Stakes and the mile-and-a-quarter Nassau Stakes at Goodwood later this month and Brown added: “We’ll take her home and see how she comes out of it and then plot for the second half of the season.”

Superlative chance for Italy to follow City Of Troy

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Aidan O’Brien’s Italy is already prominent in the betting for next season’s Classics after just one run, so a big performance is expected in the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

Two years ago City Of Troy burst into the big-race picture when beating Haatem by over six lengths in this race – and the suggestions are that Italy could produce something similar.

The imposing Wootton Bassett colt eventually got going to win cosily on his debut at Leopardstown from Thesecretadversary, who franked the form by running well in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

O’Brien said: “We’re looking forward to him. He’s a lovely horse, we think he’s come forward from his maiden and we’re looking forward to seeing what he’ll do on Saturday.

“The horse that was second to him in Leopardstown was second in Ascot, so hopefully he’ll run well.”

Saba Desert is one of two runners for Charlie Appleby and the once-raced Dubawi colt is the choice of William Buick.

Appleby has won the race five times since 2016, including last year with Ancient Truth.

“He won well at Sandown. It looks a good Superlative and as always it’s full of potential, but he’s a nice horse, he should have improved for Sandown and we’ll know where we are come Saturday afternoon,” said Buick.

“Charlie always earmarks the Superlative as a race where he wants to run his nicer two-year-olds, so it’s not hard to come to a conclusion that he’s one of the nicer ones and he’s only had the one run, so he’s a horse that’s got plenty of improvement left in him.

“He took on experienced horses at Sandown, I thought he did it very well and couldn’t do any more than what he did.

“It looks a substantial field and the winner of the Superlative will always go on to do good things – you usually see them end up in the Dewhurst.”

Wild Desert is Appleby’s other runner, who having won by five lengths on his debut was then beaten under a penalty last time out by another stablemate in Pacific Avenue.

George Boughey’s Moonfall finished behind two other Appleby juveniles on his first two outings before opening his account at Newbury.

Boughey told Star Sports: “The programme fits itself for a horse like him. He’s rated 90, and we’d like to try to turn him into a stakes horse. He could have gone to the nursery at Goodwood, but his work has been very solid.

“He’s a horse who wants seven furlongs and he’s just ready to run again. I thought waiting three weeks for Goodwood was probably too long, so I’m looking forward to seeing him step up in grade here.”

Scandinavia in a different league to Bahrain Trophy rivals

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Scandinavia was an emphatic winner when coming home unchallenged in the the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s Justify colt was the 11-8 favourite under Ryan Moore in a small field of five, and horse and rider were happy to travel along in the slipstream of early leader Furthur.

As the race progressed he loomed up beside the front runner to take the lead three furlongs from home and from there on it was plain sailing as he prevailed by an easy eight and a half lengths.

Paddy Power were very impressed and cut the winner to 6-1 from 20s for the Betfred St Leger.

Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick Smith, said: “He seems to have progressed nicely from Ascot and Ryan was very happy with him – he said he’s uncomplicated, he got into a lovely rhythm and we could have some fun with him over those longer distances now.

“He was out wide for a long way at Ascot but he bounced out of the race very well and really enjoyed the ground today.

“The Irish Leger and the English Leger, all those sort of races are open to him and he could be a Cup horse next year, perhaps. We can plot our way towards all those nice staying races at the end of the year now.”

The current ante-post favourite for the St Leger is stablemate and dual Derby winner Lambourn and Smith added: “There’s lots of options open and I think we’ll see how these horses get on over the festivals as after here we’ve got Goodwood and York coming up.

“He’s in the mix for all those top races.”

York clash with Field Of Gold possible for Delacroix

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Aidan O’Brien has raised the possibility of his Eclipse winner Delacroix taking on Field Of Gold in what would be a mouthwatering prospect for the Juddmonte International at York.

Sent off favourite for the Derby where he finished down the field, Delacroix bounced back in sensational style at Sandown, running down Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Ombudsman with a fantastic turn of foot.

Field Of Gold is ante-post favourite for the York race and given he is owned by the sponsors, should he step up in trip that looks the logical place for it to happen.

O’Brien told Sky Sports Racing of Delacroix: “We were delighted with him, obviously in the Derby Ryan (Moore) felt he just got squeezed out at the top of the hill and his chance had gone then so he nursed him.

“Before the Derby he was working like a classy mile-and-a-quarter horse and Ryan had it in his head that he could even be a miler, he always felt he had a lot of pace.

“I don’t know what he did the last two furlongs but I can imagine the fractions were very quick.

“We’re not sure about what next, we’ll see how he is first and then the lads (owners) will chat to Ryan and chat amongst themselves and then tell us where they’d like to go.

“Obviously the two big ones would be York (August 20) or Leopardstown (Irish Champion Stakes, September 13), both or one so we’ll see how he is and they’ll decide what they want to do then.”

Daytona races to Smullen success at Naas

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Daytona overcame his evident inexperience to run out an impressive winner of the inaugural Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas.

A comfortable Gowran winner on his racecourse debut last month, Daytona was sent off the 4-5 favourite for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Wayne Lordan, with the result never really looking in doubt.

Daytona initially looked a little green when given the signal to go on by Lordan, but he was too good for North Shore, pulling three and a quarter lengths clear with the minimum of fuss, earning a 20-1 quote from Paddy Power for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “Jack (Cleary) gave him a lovely introduction in Gowran where for a first timer and he was impressive. He’s come along lovely at home since then, but he’s still fairly raw.

“They went along at a nice pace and he travelled into it really strong, but when he got there he was still very babyish.

“He has the makings of a lovely horse and next year you could see him over a mile and a quarter.

“He could be one for something like the Futurity or Golden Fleece. He’s a horse to look forward to. He’ll develop physically, he’s a fine big imposing horse and he’s by that sire Wootton Bassett.”

This mile race is part of the new ‘Smullen Series’ which consists of 18 middle-distance races for two and three-year-olds and honours the late Irish champion jockey who enjoyed Derby glory with Harzand.

Smullen was O’Brien’s brother-in-law and Armstrong added: “It’s a lovely new series that they’ve introduced and all these new series initiatives help the programme.

“It’s named after a legend and Aidan picked this race out straight after Gowran for him. He’s delighted to win the first running of it and hopefully we can win a few more of them.”

Delacroix denies Ombudsman in Eclipse thriller

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Delacroix came from last to first under a vintage Ryan Moore ride to provide Aidan O’Brien with his ninth victory in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

A quality field of six runners went to post for a Group One contest that traditionally gives the Classic generation a first chance to meet their elders and this year’s renewal was no exception, with four three-year-olds taking on two top-class older horses in Ombudsman and Sosie.

Ombudsman was the 6-4 favourite to supplement his brilliant success in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and quickened up to lead inside the final furlong – but having looked to be struggling at the rear of the field early in the straight, Derby disappointment Delacroix (3-1) came with a wet sail under a power-packed Moore drive to get up by a neck.

“It wasn’t the first or the second or the third plan! He began OK, but nobody really wanted to make the running and there was three of us in a line,” Moore told ITV Racing.

“Me and William (Buick, on Ombudsman) wanted the same position and I had to give way. He was on an older, bigger horse so I thought we’d wait and go around.

“They got first run on me and he’s obviously a very good horse with a good turn of foot. He quickened up really well.

“I think 10 furlongs is fine and if anything he could probably run over shorter. He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard and he was the only horse in this race that hadn’t won a Group One, but he’d threatened to and he’s obviously out of a great racemare (Tepin) and by Dubawi.”

Delacroix returns to the winner's enclosure
Delacroix returns to the winner’s enclosure (Molly Hunter/PA)

O’Brien said: “Incredible, I thought Ryan was going to make the running on him. Obviously you don’t tell Ryan what to do, but you listen to what he’s saying, so when I saw it all changing I didn’t know what would happen or what to make of it.

“He ended up where he did and it just kept ringing in my mind that during the week Ryan said to me ‘Aidan, I think this horse is a miler’, and I always thought he was a mile-and-a-quarter horse.

“As the race went on that was what was ringing in my head, is he a miler or is he a mile-and-a-quarter horse, but obviously Ryan stuck to his judgement because he kept calm and had one go.

“What he did in the last two furlongs looked very different. It was a very good race, the second horse is a very good horse and when you get a four-year-old rated as high as that, you need a three-year-old that’s a bit different to beat them.

“Ryan said he changed plans four times in the race today. He found himself where he was but he was calm and collected and clinical.”

Paddy Power cut Delacroix’s odds for the Juddmonte International at York to 5-1 from 16-1, with Ombudsman a 4-1 shot and Field Of Gold the 5-4 favourite.

While plans for Delacroix remain up in the air, he looks set to either stick to a mile and a quarter or even drop back in trip.

“He’s hardy so you shouldn’t be afraid to race him, but the lads (owners) will decide what they want to do,” O’Brien added.

“They stacked them up in front today and he came with a deadly run, it was incredible what he did – mind-blowing.

“I don’t think going back to a mile would worry him, but if they decide to keep him at a mile and a quarter I would be delighted.

“When you can relax like that and quicken like that over a mile and a quarter, it’s very potent and a brilliant thing to have up your sleeve.”

O’Brien hoping Daytona can secure ‘special’ Naas success

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Aidan O’Brien could honour the memory of his late brother-in-law when Daytona heads to Naas for the inaugural running of the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes.

A 500,000 guineas purchase as a yearling, the son of Wootton Bassett impressed on debut at Gowran Park last month, with the master of Ballydoyle always having this newly-created Listed event in mind for the smart prospect.

O’Brien said: “Daytona is a good horse. He won nicely in Gowran the first day when Jack (Cleary) rode him. Wayne (Lordan) rides him in Naas. We think he’s a nice horse and we think the trip should suit him.

“Obviously, the race is in memory of Pat and that makes it very special for us and we’re delighted to be running what we think is a nice horse in the race. We like him, we think he’s a classy horse.”

O’Brien’s son Joseph is also well represented, saddling both Fairyhouse winner Green Soul and North Coast, the latter creating a taking impression with an all-the-way five-and-a-half-length win at Down Royal recently.

Leblon Queen had accounted for the aforementioned Green Soul on debut before running down the field in last weekend’s Airlie Stud Stakes.

She is quickly returned to the track as part of a two-strong hand for Adrian Murray alongside Flanker Jet, who was not far behind quality Ballydoyle pair Amadeus Mozart and Dorset when fourth at the Curragh on debut.

Jessica Harrington’s Wyman, Ger Lyons’ Genchev and Johnny Murtagh’s Blue Blue Moon are all unraced and complete the line-up.

The Lion In Winter joins battle in the Prix Jean Prat

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Aidan O’Brien has added The Lion In Winter to Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat at Thursday’s supplementary stage, meaning a maximum of 10 will line-up in Sunday’s Group One feature at Deauville.

It is interesting the son of Sea The Stars reverts to the distance he excelled over at York as a juvenile, winning an Acomb Stakes which had Wimbledon Hawkeye in second and subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court back in third.

That would be his final outing at two, with a late setback ruling him out of the Dewhurst Stakes, but he was one of the market leaders throughout the winter until somewhat underwhelming in his comeback run in the Dante back on the Knavesmire.

Unperturbed by that performance, connections continued to Epsom, but after again failing to sparkle when well beaten in the premier Classic, The Lion In Winter now drops back to seven furlongs on the Normandy Coast.

Juddmonte have added Andre Fabre’s filly Apollo Fountain to the field for a race the master trainer has won a joint-record five times.

She joins fellow Juddmonte-owned contender, Harry Charlton’s Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year, and Charlie Appleby’s high-class Shadow Of Light in what could be a red-hot cast, with the home defence led by Christopher Head’s Maranoa Charlie who brings British interest thanks to his owners, the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbreds operation.

O’Brien: Not out of the question Moore opts for Delacroix in the Eclipse

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Aidan O’Brien has kept the door open for Ryan Moore to ride Delacroix in the Coral-Eclipse, as he confirmed both the beaten Derby favourite and winner of the French equivalent, Camille Pissarro, would head to Sandown on Saturday.

Camille Pissarro is slightly shorter than his stablemate in the sponsor’s betting, with Coral going 13-2 about the Chantilly Classic winner and 8-1 Delacroix, who will bid to bounce back from Epsom disappointment.

Speaking at Tipperary on Wednesday evening, O’Brien suggested the Ballydoyle number one was yet to make the final call on who he will ride: “We are declaring in the morning, and it looks like Delacroix and Camille Pissarro are going to go. That’s what the lads are thinking.

Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore and Coolmore boss John Magnier
Aidan O’Brien with Ryan Moore and Coolmore boss John Magnier (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It is not written in stone, but there is a chance Ryan could ride Delacroix, we’ll see.”

O’Brien also provided updates on dual Derby hero Lambourn and Pretty Polly scorer Whirl after both excelled in the feature events at the Curragh last weekend.

Options remain fluid for Lambourn, who could set out on a path to add to his Classic haul at Doncaster in September, or take on his elders in Ascot’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Meanwhile, Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk could be left to replicate Lambourn by following up Epsom victory at the Curragh, meaning Whirl remains at 10 furlongs for the Nassau Stakes during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Lambourn added the Irish Derby at the Curragh to his CV on Sunday
Lambourn added the Irish Derby at the Curragh to his CV on Sunday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Lambourn hasn’t done anything since Sunday and probably won’t for seven to 10 days,” continued O’Brien.

“His options are to be trained for the King George or have a little rest and maybe go for a Voltigeur and a St Leger, but we’ll see what the lads want to do. He’s a hardy customer, a brave horse.

“We are thinking of the Nassau for Whirl and she’s a hardy lady too. She could go there, and Minnie Hauk will be trained for the Irish Oaks.

“(Ribblesdale Stakes winner) Garden Of Eden could also be trained for the Irish Oaks.”

Lambourn toughs it out to land Derby double

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Lambourn extended Aidan O’Brien’s stellar record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, as he became the 20th horse to follow up Epsom success at the Curragh with a battling victory over stablemate Serious Contender.

Sent off the 8-13 favourite to repeat his Epsom triumph, Ryan Moore tried to replicate Wayne Lordan’s inspired front-running ride on the Surrey Downs, but met stern resistance from Ralph Beckett’s second-string Sir Dinadan who refused to let Lambourn get his own way in front.

Moore stoked up the Epsom hero rounding the home turn and although Sir Dinadan’s challenge began to wilt, it was Ballydoyle stablemate and King George V Stakes runner-up Serious Contender in the hands of Gavin Ryan who loomed large looking a huge threat.

The Ballydoyle pair began to duel inside the final furlong, but Lambourn proved a willing ally for Moore as his stamina and Classic quality came to the fore to win by three-quarters of a length and earn a place in the history books alongside his sire Australia and grand-sire Galileo who also did the Anglo-Irish Derby double.

Serious Contender finished second at 28-1, with Charlie Johnston’s Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff staying on for third at 14-1.

“He’s a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He’s a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that’s him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride.

“Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way.

“He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine.

“We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn’t get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George so it just goes to show what can happen.”

Whirl denies Kalpana in pulsating Pretty Polly Stakes

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Whirl gained Epsom compensation when edging out Kaplana in an enthralling Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes.

The Group One event looked a match on paper between Andrew Balding’s proven Group One performer Kalpana (5-6 favourite) and Aidan O’Brien’s narrow Oaks second, and so it proved as the pair served up a Curragh Classic.

Ryan Moore was quickly away dictating terms aboard the 13-8 second-favourite, with Colin Keane never far away aboard the Juddmonte-owned Kalpana and must have thought the race was his for the taking when Whirl was asked for maximum effort with two furlongs to run with Kalpana still travelling menacingly.

However, Whirl was not for giving in and after a titanic tussle the Wootton Bassett filly pulled out extra inside the final furlong to shade a length and a quarter verdict and deny Juddmonte back-to-back victories in the feature event after Bluestocking 12 months ago.

“She’s an incredible filly. She’s just progressed and she loves getting into a fight,” said O’Brien.

“Obviously we saw that she stays a mile and a half at Epsom. She’s absolutely concrete, really. We knew that obviously she wouldn’t mind the mile and a quarter as she was very impressive in York when she won the Musidora.

“They got into a battle turning in and battling all the way up the straight like that at the Curragh takes some courage and they kept going together. Ryan said he felt 50 yards from the line that she had a look at the camera and he knew he had her then.”

O’Brien was winning the Pretty Polly for the sixth time and reserved special praise for Moore, who was joining the list of great jockeys who have won the race three times.

“Ryan gave her a brilliant ride, he got the fractions absolutely spot on,” added O’Brien.

“It’s a difficult thing when you are running a mile-and-a-half filly back at a mile and a quarter. You are trying to spread the stamina out over a mile and a quarter without stretching the elastic too long, but he got it absolutely spot on.

“He got the favourite to challenge him and this filly gets a mile and a half so there was no point turning it into a sprint. It was the plan to spread it out and let the two of them get together and see who was going to be the best.

“As they say ‘let the best horse jump the ditch’ after that. Two great jockeys, what can I say about Ryan, day in day out he’s incredible.

“They went strong and the two of them went together. Ryan and Colin knew they were each other’s dangers and they weren’t going to give each other an inch, which they couldn’t afford to.

All smiles from Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien
All smiles from Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Those kind of races are few and far between. When you have that type of quality horse lining up and two riders like that. On ground like this, in a place like this, it’s a very special weekend.”

As for the future for his winner, O’Brien is inclined to keep an open mind, with Whirl’s Epsom conqueror Minnie Hauk also up his sleeve for the season’s major events.

He said: “She can go anywhere now this filly. She can come back here to the Oaks, she can go to the Nassau (at Goodwood).

“She’s an unusual filly. She’s tough and she’s not even blowing there, her nostrils weren’t even flaring.

“She’s obviously a very high-class filly and it’s very exciting. It’s possible she’s kept apart from Minnie Hauk, but the lads could let them run together in the Oaks.

“I’d imagine if Minnie Hauk comes back to the Oaks and she’s well she’ll be let go by herself and this filly could do other things.

“She’s not slow either.”

Lambourn aiming to join list of Ballydoyle giants

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Lambourn will try to follow in the footsteps of some of Ballydoyle’s greatest when attempting to extend Aidan O’Brien’s phenomenal record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Sunday.

O’Brien has won the Curragh showpiece a record 16 times, including in the past two seasons with Auguste Rodin (2023) and Los Angeles (2024), and now Lambourn will bid to replicate his sire Australia by following up blue riband success from Epsom on home soil.

“He’s a lovely horse and like Australia himself, an absolute gentleman,” said O’Brien.

“He has a great mind, stays well and is uncomplicated. He’s a lovely horse to do anything with and he’s just one of those very unique horses – he’s scopey and classy and obviously we were delighted with him in Epsom.

Aidan O’Brien with Lambourn at Epsom
Aidan O’Brien with Lambourn at Epsom (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

“Wayne (Lordan) gave him a beautiful ride at Epsom and Ryan (Moore) rode him the same in Chester – he rode him forward. He won his races doing that last year and when you have a horse like that who is not held hostage to any other horse in the race or anything, he’s just so straightforward.

“Australia was the only horse we ever had here with no fight or flight response and this horse is the same. When you put him in first gear he stays in first gear and second gear is the same and third, fourth up along.

“He’s not influenced by any of his surroundings or any horse around him – he’s a total independent thinker and those type of horses are really a pleasure to deal with.”

It was Joseph O’Brien who was aboard Lambourn’s sire Australia for his father when he secured dual Derby honours in 2014 and he will now seek to win the race for a second time as a trainer with Epsom third Tennessee Stud after Latrobe’s success in 2018.

Tennessee Stud leaving the parade ring at Epsom
Tennessee Stud leaving the parade ring at Epsom (Adam Morgan/PA)

“We were very proud of Tennessee Stud’s run in Epsom. He got back a little bit early, but he came home very strong,” said O’Brien.

“The plan was to come back to the Curragh and his preparation has gone smoothly. We are excited about a rematch with Lambourn.

“I think Tennessee Stud is open to a lot of improvement. His first run of the year was off an extended lay off, he came forward a lot from that run in Epsom where he ran a career best and we’d love if he could run another career best in the Curragh.”

Ralph Beckett knows what it is like to win the Irish Derby following Epsom disappointment, having seen Westover gain Classic compensation on the Curragh in 2022, and will hope to see his Dante scorer Pride Of Arras bounce back after misfiring in his first shot at Classic glory.

One of two in the race for Beckett alongside Cocked Hat runner-up Sir Dinadan, the Pride Of Arras team are firmly retaining belief in the talented son of New Bay and feel a trip to the Curragh could inspire a return to the sparkling form he showed previously at York.

“You would think Lambourn will try to do similar to what he did at Epsom, we’ve just got to try and see if we can get closer,” said Patrick Cooper, owners David and Vimy Aykroyd’s racing manager.

“The Curragh is one of the great racecourses in the world and the track at the Curragh is as good as there is anywhere – it will suit everyone and there is no horse who isn’t suited by the Curragh.

“When you have a good horse like this you have to enjoy it and he showed us how good he was in the Dante, so we’re entitled to keep dreaming.”

Green Impact ahead of his Irish Derby challenge this weekend
Green Impact ahead of his Irish Derby challenge this weekend (Alan Magee/PA)

Also taking their second crack at Classic glory is Jessica Harrington’s Green Impact, who bounced back from his sixth in the 2000 Guineas to take the Glencairn Stakes earlier this month, with connections now keen to explore a mile and a half with the son of Wootton Bassett.

Harrington said: “At the time I was disappointed about the Guineas, but on reflection it wasn’t a bad run and then he went on to win well at Leopardstown last time. After that it was a case of all roads lead to the Irish Derby.

“I think he’ll stay. He’s by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare and is very laid back and relaxed. He’s a big, long-striding horse and the Curragh should suit him.”

Beautify too strong for Lady Iman in Airlie Stud Stakes

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Beautify showed both plenty of heart and quality to account for Lady Iman at the Curragh and give Aidan O’Brien a fourth straight success in the Airlie Stud Stakes.

Most of the pre-race focus centred on Ger Lyons’ unbeaten 8-15 favourite who skipped Royal Ascot in favour of this Group Two event.

She travelled powerfully before breezing into contention in the hands of Colin Keane – but ultimately she proved no match for Beautify, who stepped up significantly on her debut third at this track and was given a fine front-running ride by Ryan Moore.

The daughter of Wootton Bassett was joined by the big-race favourite who loomed menacingly with a furlong to run, but it was soon one-way traffic as the 2-1 winner galloped on strongly for a two-length success.

“Ryan gave her a lovely ride. She had a lovely run first time and came forward lovely since then,” said O’Brien.

“The plan was to get a run into her and then come here for this race. It’s a very good race, a Group Two, an important race and a great track. It’s a very important race for a filly.”

O’Brien is already eyeing stepping Beautify up to seven furlongs, with a return to the Curragh for the Moyglare Stud Stakes during the Irish Champions Festival a possible option for later in the season.

Ryan Moore with Beautify
Ryan Moore with Beautify (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Ryan was very impressed. He said he’d love to go up to seven with her, that’s a very good sign when you hear him talking like that,” added O’Brien.

“Obviously she’s a Moyglare-type filly when Ryan says that, but obviously gets six very strong and travelled very strong.

“Ryan said she really got going inside the furlong marker and started to really open up. It’s great to hear that.

“She’s by Wootton Bassett who is an incredible stallion. The speed that they have and they stay, which is incredible. It’s very unusual, loads of speed and trips seem to be no problem to them either.”

Lyons was not too downcast in defeat for Lady Iman: “It was trainer error. It was a proper horse race and the best horse won. She (Beautify) will go forward in trip and I’ll drop back in trip.

“In defence of the best jockey in Ireland he’s been telling me for quite a while that she is a five furlong horse, but I just refused to listen to him.

Ger Lyons took defeat for Lady Iman on the chin
Ger Lyons took defeat for Lady Iman on the chin (Brian Lawless/PA)

“She’s a lovely filly. I think the fractions were very quick and when she loomed up to Ryan at the furlong pole I went ‘she’s never that good’, but she just got outstayed.

“She’s a proper horse and she owes us nothing. It would have been lovely to tick the Group Two box but we’ll go back now and look for the fives. Take the winner out of it though and we got six well. Six isn’t beyond us either.

“Sometimes you’d be on the ground when you lose, but I’m not. You walked away there knowing something.

“I can now fix what I know and listen to Colin!”

Dorset delivers victory full of promise at the Curragh

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Aidan O’Brien was to the fore in the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF at the Curragh, as Dorset led home stablemate Benvenuto Cellini to open his account at the second attempt.

A son of Wootton Bassett who cost €400,000 as a yearling, he was beaten half a length by fellow Ballydoyle inmate Amadeus Mozart over the same course and distance on debut earlier this month, but the 4-9 favourite was much more streetwise on this occasion to register a length and a half success in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Dorset joins O’Brien’s City Of Troy on the roll of honour for the seven-furlong contest and although he has some way to go before being mentioned in the same breath as the Derby winner, his victory was one of huge potential.

O’Brien said: “He’s a straightforward, lovely horse. He came forward from his first start and he will get further. We’re very happy.

“He’s obviously a Group horse and he’ll be very comfortable when he goes up to a mile. He could go to the Tyros, the Futurity or he could go for the Pat Smullen race – that’s up to a mile.

“The second horse (Benvenuto Cellini) will be a nice maiden next time, he did everything right.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Trustyourinstinct finished second to Jan Brueghel in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai International Stakes In Honour Of Kevin Prendergast 12 months ago and went one better this time to follow up his Orby Stakes victory at the track last month.

The 4-9 favourite proved too strong for Noel Meade’s Layfayette who was three-and-a-quarter lengths adrift of Dylan Browne McMonagle’s mount in second.

“He turns up and runs his race every day. He’s a multiple stakes winner and he loves the Curragh,” said O’Brien.

“Up in class and down in trip today, with a penalty, it wasn’t an easy task and I actually thought he was impressive.

“I’d say it’s right up there with him at his very best. He won here the last day but he kind of fought it out and he outstayed them on the day. Today he showed a little bit of a turn of foot off the bend.

“I’m sure he’ll travel somewhere in the Autumn, he could go to Australia. He has loads of options for good pots.”