RACING LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT:NATIONAL HUNT racing's focus may be on Grand Nationals of various hues right now but Aidan O'Brien already has some of the world's top flat races in his sights with even a Kentucky Derby attempt by Master Of Hounds not ruled out.
An overnight dash from Dubai where Cape Blanco ran fourth in Saturday’s World Cup meant O’Brien was at Leopardstown yesterday to see Empowering earn a ticket to Newmarket’s 1,000 Guineas in a month’s time as she beat her stable companion Wild Wind in the Group Three trial.
Empowering justified a significant gamble from 12 to 1 down to 11 to 2 when making all under O’Brien’s son, Joseph, who couldn’t exercise his claim and put up a lb overweight.
Neither factor mattered, though, as the filly, owned by Anne Marie O’Brien, won decisively to see her jockey’s claim cut to 3lb and 33 to 1 ante-post quotes floating about her Classic chances.
“She was badly drawn so he popped her out and bowled along,” O’Brien Snr said. “She’s in the English Guineas and might go, and so could the second filly.” Joseph O’Brien was not allowed ride the Ballydoyle hotpot Apache in the concluding maiden when the stewards denied him permission to carry 5lb overweight. Colm O’Donoghue rode instead but Apache couldn’t overhaul Best Hello in the closing stages.
Nevertheless the generally good start to the new Flat campaign made by Ballydoyle was underlined at Meydan when Master Of Hounds was just touched off in the UAE Derby and a Derby of a much more famous kind could be on his agenda as O’Brien outlined some big race plans.
“If we’re going to have a runner in the Kentucky Derby (May 7th) it’ll be him. It is an option for him,” the champion trainer admitted. “Roderic O’Connor looks like going straight for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (April 30th) and Cape Blanco could go to Singapore (International Cup on May 22nd) or wait for Ascot (Prince Of Wales’s Stakes).”
The 2009 champion juvenile St Nicholas Abbey may have his first start since last year’s Guineas in this Sunday’s Alleged Stakes at the Curragh while Navan’s Vintage Crop Stakes is a possible start to the campaign for the 2009 Irish Derby hero, Fame And Glory.
Johnny Murtagh endured an unlucky passage on History Note who was third to Empowering in the 1,000 trial but there was real frustration for the John Oxx team in the 2,000 trial as the highly-touted Cocozza was withdrawn at the start. The strapping colt had been well backed to dispute favouritism with Dunboyne Express but twice appeared to almost sit down in the stalls, forcing Murtagh to bail out both times. He was withdrawn by order of the stewards.
“He lay down sideways which is not something he’s ever done before,” Oxx said. “The good thing is he didn’t do anything crazy, just lay there. If he’d struggled and twisted something it could have been different but he looks okay. We’ll stick a blanket on him next time but it’s frustrating because there aren’t many other options for him.”
Dunboyne Express duly won the trial and will appear next in the Irish Guineas with Kevin Prendergast reporting: “That was satisfactory and the run will bring him on a good bit. He got a colic after Doncaster (Racing Post Trophy.)”
There were no problems for Johnny Murtagh, however, when he rode his first winners for the Aga Khan in his new position as the new number one rider in Ireland for the legendary owner.
Haziyna was rated just 65 before the 10-furlong handicap but ran away from her field while Mesariya looked in a different league again in making a winning debut in the fillies maiden.
“We got a rush of blood and entered her in the Irish Guineas and the English Oaks. But I suppose that doesn’t look too stupid now,” Oxx said after her comfortable defeat of Siren’s Song.
Apprentice Samantha Bell rode her first winner on just her third ride when Celtic Dane short-headed the warm favourite Gimli’s Rock in the 1m 2f handicap.
