Marvellous prevented a cross-channel clean-sweep of the Curragh's triple Group One weekend when providing Aidan O'Brien with a 30th Classic success in Ireland by landing the Etihad Airways Irish 1, 000 Guineas.
After securing an emotional top-flight victory for Frankel’s brother Noble Mission in the earlier Tattersalls Gold Cup, to add to Kingman’s 2,000 Guineas win on Saturday, the Juddmonte team had to settle for third in the fillies Classic with their second-string Vote Often.
Ultimately, it was the O'Brien second string that prevailed, sweeping from the back under Ryan Moore to overhaul the English favourite Lightning Thunder by three lengths and earn a shot at the Epsom Oaks in 12 days time.
It was a first Group One of 2014 for O'Brien who'd earlier seen Magician beaten by Noble Mission on ground officially "heavy" in the straight and which contributed to a Tattersalls finish more akin to a steeplechase than a top-flight middle distance flat race. 'Yellow card' "We knew Magician would hate the ground but the race was in trouble and in danger of losing its Group One status. The race was on a yellow card and if we didn't run the ratings would have dropped. If it lost that status it would be detrimental to Irish racing so we had to run," explained the champion trainer.
O’Brien’s son Joseph chose Palace over Marvellous in yesterday’s Classic but Seamus Heffernan on the Ballydoyle third-string Wonderfully reckoned beforehand the champion jockey had picked wrong and so it proved. Moore, winning his second Irish Classic, rode a patient race and Marvellous rewarded him with a devastating late run on the outside of the field.
“She’s very good to do that on just her third start. She struggled a bit early but should get further and will be better on nicer ground,” said the Englishman.
Some bookmakers cut Marvellous to as low as 7/1 for Epsom and O’Brien Snr said: “Joseph picked at declaration time when the ground was a lot better and Seamus always thought this was the filly. You’d think she’ll get a mile and a quarter and it looks positive for a mile and a half.”
Imagine in 2001 pulled off the Irish Guineas-English Oaks double so Marvellous has big shoes to fill, although not as big as Noble Mission's whose fate is to always operate in the shadow of his legendary brother. Top-flight win The five-year-old has secured Group One credentials in his own right, though, by an all-the-way win that provided trainer Jane Cecil with a first top-flight win that inevitably provoked memories of her late husband Henry Cecil.
“I can’t tell what it means. I thought if ever he was going to win a Group One today was the day. It’s so wonderful for everyone at Warren Place,” she said of Noble Mission who was supplemented into the race at a cost of €21,000. “James (Doyle) has really clicked with the horse and he’s much stronger this year.”
This Sunday’s French Derby at Chantilly is a Classic option for Adelaide after his three-length win in yesterday’s Gallinule Stakes although O’Brien was quick to point out how it’s not just the French Guineas races at Longchamp that can get effected by the draw. “The problem with the French Derby at 10 furlongs is that if you get drawn high it can be very difficult. But it is an option,” he said. “We were worried about the ground, but every day he runs it seems to be soft.”
A Ballydoyle hat-trick was brought up by Table Rock in the concluding maiden while Great Minds scored again at HQ in the sprint handicap for the Tommy Stack team.
