Wrong rein
September 10th 2008 06:00
Last weekend Aidan O’Brien entered eight horses in three Group One races in both Ireland and France - and this time came away empty handed. The quest for the record number of Group One victories is still within his grasp, but he will need a bit of luck in the remaining months to snare the difficult last few.
(photo: bbc.co.uk)
As anticipated O’Brien scratched Duke Of Marmalade from the Irish Champion Stakes - not wishing to give him a campaign stifling ‘gut-buster’ on soft ground, even though Duke Of Marmalade has already proved a winner on wet tracks.
But O’Brien may regret his scratching as although the Leopardstown track was waterlogged on the Friday preceding; it was probably no worse than the official rating of ‘yielding’ come race time.
New Approach was sent out a very short-priced favourite (8/13) in the absence of the Duke and he duly won - but his performance was far from convincing and his bad racing manners and refusing to settle resulted in a hard fought victory over a group of moderately performed horses. In fact the runner-up was the 50/1 shot Traffic Guard, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, and winless since July of 2007. Jane is likely to bring Traffic Guard to Australia now, as a travelmate for Yellowstone, and possible entrant for the Cox Plate. But so unimpressed were Ladbrokes with the win of New Approach that they reacted by stretching his odds out to 12/1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The weather woes for Aidan O’Brien were compounded when he did elect to start his champion 3 year old Henrythenavigator on a very soft track at Longchamp in the Prix Du Moulin. Henrythenavigator has (unlike the more versatile Duke Of Marmalade) shown a definite preference for firm going and fast ground. He was never really in contention, settling well back in the field and running bravely (but well below best) to finish a career worst fifth placing behind Goldikova.
"It was a very close call to make about him running, He has run a good race but the top was coming off the ground. Johnny said he laboured a little on it and he wasn't able to get hold of it as he normally can.
Speed is his big attribute, but that was blunted and he could never get into top gear. We'll have a look at options now and we will have to consider Ascot for the QEII and, longer term, the Breeders' Cup." - Aidan O’Brien.
This was probably the first blunder by the Ballydoyle Group One juggernaut this year. A scratching when running most likely secures a victory, and running when staying home for another day the most sensible decision.
But there are still enough Group One races that can be won by O’Brien. And to highlight this there has been a plunge on Septimus for our Group One Melbourne Cup with one Irish punter outlaying $65,000 on Septimus at 16/1. Sportingbet immediately responded by cutting his odds to 13/1 for the Melbourne Cup.
(if) On his way to Melbourne Septimus lines up at the Curragh in the Irish St Leger this Saturday.
Odds with William Hill:
Septimus 4/6
Mores Wells 7/1
Hasanka 8/1
Honolulu 10/1
Royal And Regal 14/1
Yellowstone 16/1
Before last weekend William Hill had quoted Aidan O’Brien at 2/7 to reach the historic 26 Group One winners mark - with 5/2 offered for those thinking he would not reach the target.
A replay of Prix Du Moulin:
PRIX DU MOULIN 2008
Watch Henrythenavigator close strongly for 5th. Think he would’ve won clearly on a firm track. A brave effort.
New Approach
(photo: bbc.co.uk)
As anticipated O’Brien scratched Duke Of Marmalade from the Irish Champion Stakes - not wishing to give him a campaign stifling ‘gut-buster’ on soft ground, even though Duke Of Marmalade has already proved a winner on wet tracks.
But O’Brien may regret his scratching as although the Leopardstown track was waterlogged on the Friday preceding; it was probably no worse than the official rating of ‘yielding’ come race time.
New Approach was sent out a very short-priced favourite (8/13) in the absence of the Duke and he duly won - but his performance was far from convincing and his bad racing manners and refusing to settle resulted in a hard fought victory over a group of moderately performed horses. In fact the runner-up was the 50/1 shot Traffic Guard, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, and winless since July of 2007. Jane is likely to bring Traffic Guard to Australia now, as a travelmate for Yellowstone, and possible entrant for the Cox Plate. But so unimpressed were Ladbrokes with the win of New Approach that they reacted by stretching his odds out to 12/1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The weather woes for Aidan O’Brien were compounded when he did elect to start his champion 3 year old Henrythenavigator on a very soft track at Longchamp in the Prix Du Moulin. Henrythenavigator has (unlike the more versatile Duke Of Marmalade) shown a definite preference for firm going and fast ground. He was never really in contention, settling well back in the field and running bravely (but well below best) to finish a career worst fifth placing behind Goldikova.
"It was a very close call to make about him running, He has run a good race but the top was coming off the ground. Johnny said he laboured a little on it and he wasn't able to get hold of it as he normally can.
Speed is his big attribute, but that was blunted and he could never get into top gear. We'll have a look at options now and we will have to consider Ascot for the QEII and, longer term, the Breeders' Cup." - Aidan O’Brien.
This was probably the first blunder by the Ballydoyle Group One juggernaut this year. A scratching when running most likely secures a victory, and running when staying home for another day the most sensible decision.
But there are still enough Group One races that can be won by O’Brien. And to highlight this there has been a plunge on Septimus for our Group One Melbourne Cup with one Irish punter outlaying $65,000 on Septimus at 16/1. Sportingbet immediately responded by cutting his odds to 13/1 for the Melbourne Cup.
(if) On his way to Melbourne Septimus lines up at the Curragh in the Irish St Leger this Saturday.
Odds with William Hill:
Septimus 4/6
Mores Wells 7/1
Hasanka 8/1
Honolulu 10/1
Royal And Regal 14/1
Yellowstone 16/1
Before last weekend William Hill had quoted Aidan O’Brien at 2/7 to reach the historic 26 Group One winners mark - with 5/2 offered for those thinking he would not reach the target.
A replay of Prix Du Moulin:
PRIX DU MOULIN 2008
Watch Henrythenavigator close strongly for 5th. Think he would’ve won clearly on a firm track. A brave effort.
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