Ballydoyle juveniles soaring to new heights
Over an hour earlier, Australia had landed the Derby and, with most of the press still banging out their copy, not too many went to the winner’s enclosure to hear about Giovanni.
Indeed, by the time O’Brien had finished talking about the horse, I distinctly remember there were just three of us left.
In such circumstances one can always pop a question or two regarding other matters and O’Brien is never less than generous.
Top of the particular agenda, usually, as my colleagues only know too well, is the possibility of finding a future winner, rather than worrying too much about what has passed into history.
At the time, Ballydoyle had not unearthed any potential juvenile superstar and it would have been quite wrong to allow the occasion to pass without hopping the ball, so to speak.
Keep in mind that there was racing again the following day at the Curragh and you’d never know where a discussion might lead.
And so I duly remarked to O’Brien: “When is Ballydoyle going to introduce a proper two-year-old this season?’’
His response was instant and, not surprisingly, quick witted. “I’d like to see one myself.’’
Then, warming to the subject, O’Brien, continued: “I think you will see one tomorrow in Gleneagles.’’
The three of us nodded our thanks and eased away, all resolving, you suspect, to grab the wages on that Sunday.
Gleneagles had been beaten into fourth place on his debut at Leopardstown and, if willing to take a relatively short price about him at the Curragh, then you certainly needed encouragement from the right quarter.
We had that, in spades, and the only question to be answered was how much was one willing to risk. Returned at even money, Gleneagles won in a canter.
The reason I talk about it now is because ever since that evening, Ballydoyle has subsequently sent a succession of potentially high-class two-year-olds spinning in our direction.
Gleneagles followed by winning a Group 3 and then a Group 2 and is one of four Ballydoyle colts that currently head the Epsom Derby market. The others are Ol’ Man River, Highland Reel and John F Kennedy.
Ol’ Man River is now unbeaten in two races, while Highland Reel and John F Kennedy were both beaten into second on their debuts and then won there next two.
Add in Order Of St George, currently on offer at 33-1 for Epsom and an eight and a half lengths winner of a maiden at Leopardstown, and it adds up to a staggering array of talent.
There obviously may well be more to come and what it means is that Ballydoyle will head into the winter with, arguably, an even stronger hand than that which has long been the norm.
When Clonard Street won at the Galway festival in early August he cost plenty of us a few quid.
A John McConnell-trained newcomer was always going to be a bookmaker’s pal and when he popped up at 22-1, beating our 11-4 shot, Michael Halford’s Prologue, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
Clonard Street then came up for sale and was bought by J P McManus and put into training with Tony Martin.
The fact he was sent to Martin might have indicated that connections saw him as a potential jumper down the line.
Clonard Street is by Archipenko and certainly doesn’t have the most compelling of pedigrees.
That may well be the case, but what he does possess is an engine. Clonard Street, of course, reappeared at the Curragh last Sunday and stepped up on his Galway performance to finish second behind Ol’ Man River in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes.
So is he now far too good to go jumping?
If you backed Drifting Mist, and she had an each way shout at 14-1 in an eight-horse affair, in a Listed race at the Curragh last Sunday, then you were entitled to tear the old hair out.
Drifting Mist was partnered by Shane Foley, in this two-mile stamina test, and the way she tore off in front was mind-boggling.
She had run a nice sort of race, admittedly also from the front, but with far more restraint exercised, when third in a Listed event at Listowel previously.
Anyway, most of the jockeys in behind just ignored her at the Curragh, fully aware that it was impossible to maintain such a gallop, over such a trip.
In the end it was a miracle that Drifting Mist didn’t collapse, as she trailed home stone last, beaten 77 lengths. Oh dear!
