When Aidan O’Brien turned up at Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas three weekends ago, hopes were high in the Ballydoyle team that the stable would be collecting a tenth success in the first Classic of the year, writes Tony Stafford.

He had the favourite – the Vertem (ahem) Futurity winner, Auguste Rodin – of which nothing short of a comfortable victory was being entertained, as well as last year’s European Champion juvenile - by a massive 5lb margin - in Little Big Bear.

The former wound up finishing last of the 14 runners behind Chaldean, Hi Royal and Royal Scotsman, with Auguste Rodin 12th, both colts more than 20 lengths behind the Frankie Dettori-ridden winner.

Aidan declared it a non-event for his two colts, citing early scrimmaging involving them both and Royal Scotsman. He maintained the firm Derby objective for Auguste – the race that was envisaged as the second leg of his ambitious Triple Crown attempt - while announcing Little Big Bear would lick his wounds and go sprinting.

So, what of the Irish 2,000 this weekend just gone? Little Big Bear did indeed go sprinting and, with Ryan Moore busily employed for three days at the Curragh from Friday to yesterday, the peripatetic Signor Dettori eagerly offered his services.

If Frankie is one p- word, Aidan and the Coolmore boys are another – pragmatic in the extreme. In the six-furlong Group 2 Sandy Hill over six furlongs at Haydock Park, last year’s champion two-year-old was ranged among others against the 114-rated Bradsell, super-fast Royal Ascot winner for Archie Watson.

For a few strides coming into the last 300 yards, Bradsell briefly suggested a tussle might be forthcoming, but once Little Big Bear got Frankie’s serious message through the reins, the result was stark. Bradsell didn’t just go under, he collapsed. The easy way is to say he didn’t stay – although probably he didn’t and the move back to five furlongs is sensible - but the truth is, he was humiliated by his rival.

As striking as was this powerful son of No Nay Never’s acceleration, the determined way runner-up Shouldhavebeenaring from the Richard Hannon stable managed to hold the deficit at one and a half lengths, was almost as impressive. He had drawn eight lengths clear of Bradsell at the line.

Now the Commonwealth Cup/ July Cup summer double must be Little Big Bear’s programme, and I’m sure Aidan and the boys, not to mention Ryan who will have been licking his lips in anticipation, will have a wary eye on the Hannon dark horse in both.

Of course, this coming weekend there are bigger fish to fry in the Derby for the other member of the Guineas non-eventers. So, what did Aidan contrive to restore stable honour faced with the 2-3 from Newmarket in Hi Royal and Royal Scotsman, representing Kevin Ryan and Paul and Oliver Cole respectively?

It probably didn’t take too much scrutiny among the 50 Classically bred colts in the Ballydoyle stables (*source Horses in Training 2023) to identify the next star cab off the rank. Step forward Paddington, actually and bizarrely not listed in the HIT team, a winner second time out last autumn by five lengths in a maiden.

For his return right at the start of the new season in March, Aidan chose a handicap at Naas in which the Irish assessor had obligingly allotted a mark of 97 for the 20-runner Curragh romp the previous September.

Next came a Listed race, won by a length and a half from stable-companion Drumroll over the course and distance of Saturday’s Classic. Drumroll finished second past the post again in yesterday’s Gallinule Stakes (Group 3) but having been bumped a couple of times by the original winner, was awarded the race.

O’Brien found two additional candidates for the colts’ Classic. First was Age Of Kings, a Kingman colt who had been some way behind Bradsell in last year’s Coventry Stakes, but later Group placed in Ireland, before off the track for almost a year. He beat one home.

More intriguing was Cairo, a son of US sire Quality Road and as such regarded as suitable to challenge for the UAE Derby on dirt on Dubai World Cup night.

This presumably was to have been the prelude to a tilt at the Kentucky Derby. He started favourite at Meydan but faded away to 10th of 13 and any US challenge never materialised.

Instead, he turned up on Saturday as back up to Paddington and in typical Aidan O’Brien style ran on to complete the exacta, just ahead of Hi Royal, who had a spirited set-to with the winner until cracking in the last 100 yards.

In a welcome return to the big time, veteran handler Paul Cole, now with training duties and recognition shared with son Oliver, has a horse of real ability. Royal Scotsman had extricated himself from the early muddle with the two Coolmore stars at HQ to stay on for a very good third.

As Hi Royal had been rated only 92 as he entered the stalls in the 2000 Guineas (115 after), starting at 125/1, Royal Scotsman was expected to reverse the Newmarket form, and was the 6/4 favourite on the Curragh, but he was never in contention under Jamie Spencer and finished a disappointing ninth.

Now Paddington surely will be the number one from O’Brien to challenge Chaldean in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot when Brian Meehan’s French 2000 narrow runner-up Isaac Shelby could also be in the line-up.

The Coolmore partners clearly have a high regard for Siyouni, sire of Paddington and two of their highest-profile young stallions in Sotsass and St Mark’s Basilica. Paddington has elbowed his way into the top table of three-year-old colts from last year’s European Free Handicap.

Of the five top rated colts and one filly last year, four of the colts including the “scrimmaging trio” as well as the winner Chaldean, were all on show on the first Saturday in May. The exception was Blackbeard, retired to stud after a busy campaign in the top juvenile races over six furlongs, for Group 1 wins in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes for Coolmore.

The filly in question was of course the narrowly beaten 1000 Guineas favourite Tahiyra, just outlasted by Godolphin’s Mawj with the rest well beaten off. Dermot Weld said before Newmarket that he wished he had two more weeks with her after she had been held up by the wet spring.

Now with the required extra time, she was fully primed for her home 1000 Guineas, and was the overwhelming favourite. The Newmarket race had proved a disappointment for the O’Brien team, with Meditate not matching last year’s form, but she was back in full cry yesterday, Ryan Moore always having her well placed. They went for home in the straight, but Tahiyra and Chris Hayes always had her in their sights and the Weld filly won comfortably.

Jim Bolger has yet another potential star on his hands in the Vocalised filly Comhra, a 150/1 shot after two unplaced runs in Group 3 trials this spring, but a closing third here. In another two strides she would have been second and so fast did she finish, I doubt Bolger will have any fear of taking on the first two at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes.

Two home wins, including the 2000 and one Group 2 race at Haydock, made for a great Saturday. Four wins yesterday, all with Ryan in the saddle, made for a veritable feast, highlighted by Luxembourg’s tremendous performance in holding off Sir Michael Stoute’s top-class Bay Bridge in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, a second Group 1 of the weekend. Favourite here was last year’s French 2000 and Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni, 11/8 with a previous run behind him, but he was a well-beaten fifth yesterday as the front two drew clear.

Vadeni had been a close third to Luxembourg in last September’s Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown before running a wonderful second to Alpinista in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Luxembourg, clearly improving, promises many more successes. And if Auguste Rodin does win the Derby, a season which was initially viewed with trepidation by the Coolmore partners could develop into a vintage one, even by their and O’Brien’s standards.

One notable absentee on Derby Day – apart from me, owing to an unexpected domestic issue – is Sir Rupert Mackeson, yes, of the brewing family, but more significantly, the man who for many years has run the bookshop on Britain’s racecourses. He was a fixture at Epsom’s summer meeting and a couple of years ago, I spotted a lovely water colour on his stall which Derby winning owner Khalifa Dasmal (Shaamit) was delighted to acquire.

Rupert has struggled manfully with physical difficulties for many years, yet even approaching his 80’s he remains as mentally sharp as he ever was. I helped him on his stand at Ascot for a couple of days one September a few years back and very much enjoyed the experience, marvelling at his knowledge of his subject.

Over the years, he became very friendly with Lester Piggott, who regularly visited the Epsom pitch on Derby Day. Had he still been in his old Derby Day location, he had planned a Lester Piggott Oaks/Derby exhibition, with many items signed by the King of Epsom. This will now be located at Weston Super Frames, 17 Locking Road, Weston super-Mare BS23 3UY. I hope it goes well.

-TS