Balestriri springs a 33-1 shocker as Alberto flops
Yesterday’s Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown saw Aidan O’Brien’s totally unconsidered 33-1 chance Balestrini beat Epsom Derby candidates Alamshar and stable companion, Alberto Giacometti.
This was a difficult result to digest, when you take into account that Balestrini is Alberto Giacometti’s lead horse at home.
Alberto was a big punt in the ring, hardening from a little evens to 4-6, but never promised to get in a blow at the Tom Queally partnered winner.
This was Queally’s first success for O’Brien and he is now very much part of the Ballydoyle team.
The real eye-catcher, however, was John Oxx’s Alamshar, who made up an enormous amount of late ground to go down by half a length.
Balestrini set off at a scorching pace and it always looked a matter of when he came back to his field, at least that’s what we thought.
But he turned for home ten lengths clear of Alberto Giacometti, full of running and showing absolutely no signs of stopping.
Alberto Giacometti was beaten before the furlong pole, as Alamshar began to make giant strides. He powered home, but was never going to get there and Queally was able to relax close to the post.
If O’Brien was shell-shocked by the outcome, he didn’t show it.
"Balestrini is a beautiful looking horse and has been working well,” he reported.
Regarding Alberto Giacometti, he said: "You are always disappointed when they don’t win. Mick (Kinane) said he was racing on his own and just got tired. We will have to see now when he gets fitter if the improvement will come!”
Alamshar, however, was the horse most would want to be on the next day. He tracked the market leader for most of the journey and it was all too late when he was asked to close on the eventual winner.
Commented trainer John Oxx: "We are delighted with that, we just wanted him to have a nice race. We decided to follow Mick and, as a result, were too far back. We are not too pushed about the result.”
Alamshar was a big mover in Cashmans’ Epsom Derby betting, finding 7-1 from double those odds. They went 3-1 Brian Boru (5-1 later), 7-1 Alamshar, 8-1 Refuse To Bend and 12-1 bar. The firm thumped Alberto Giacometti out to 20-1 from 6’s.
Paddy Power meanwhile tightened Alamshar to 7-1, from 12’s, and have Brian Boru as 4-1 favourite. Alberto Giacometti is a 12-1 shot with them.
Dermot Weld’s Refuse To Bend kept his unbeaten record with a workmanlike performance in the 2000 Guineas Trial.
"It was alright”, was Weld’s initial reaction to the colt’s half a length defeat of Curragh maiden winner, Good Day Too.
Pat Smullen sent Refuse To Bend ahead with less than two furlongs to go and it looked as if the son of Sadler’s Wells would go clear.
But it was soon obvious that it wasn’t going to happen, although the winner was never in any danger of defeat, as Good Day Too ran on strongly for second.
Commented Weld: "I have always said he was more of a Derby horse than a Guineas horse and I still believe that.
He’s laid-back and idles in front. I will speak to connections before making a decision as to where he now goes. There’s no hurry about making that decision.”
Weld’s choice, of course, will be between the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, or returning to Leopardstown for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial.
Said Smullen: "Leopardstown have done a great job with the ground, but it was still plenty fast enough for him. He will never win by ten lengths and just does enough.”
Paddy Power reacted by shortening Refuse To Bend to 8-1, from 10’s, for the English 2000 Guineas. Cashmans offered Refuse To Bend at 12-1 for the Guineas.
Weld’s Dimitrova, also partnered by Smullen, stepped up from maiden company to Listed class with a game performance to win the 1,000 Guineas Trial.
Smullen popped her away in front and she held a couple of lengths advantage over the easy to back L’Ancresse early in the straight.
L’Ancresse was soon in full flow and closed with every stride. But the post came in time and Dimitrova was a head in front when it was reached.
Said Weld: "The Irish 1000 Guineas is the logical place for her to go. She will be entered in the next 1000 Guineas trial, back here on Derrinstown Day, but I would say it will be direct to the Curragh. She is brave and genuine and Pat gave her a lovely tactical ride.”
John Oxx introduced a very nice newcomer in the Desert King filly, Darabela, to take the Palmer McCormack Maiden.
It took a while for the penny to drop, but she quickened stylishly close home to ease past the front running Master Role and score by a snug half a length.
Said Oxx: "She got her act together and came home well. She is bred to get further and will certainly stay a mile and nine furlongs.
"We will see, but it’s likely she will get even further than that. Anyway, we will look at better races now.”
Unlucky horse of the contest was the Aidan O’Brien trained Septimus Severus, backed from 7-4 to 5-4 favourite.
He had the worst of the draw, could never get in a blow, but was doing all his best work at the end to finish third.
Weld’s Supreme Certainty simply streaked away with the Liffey Handicap to complete a treble for himself and Smullen.
The handler’s Stage Affair, now a nine-year-old, made a brave attmept from the front in the Leopardstown Handicap.
Smullen allowed him stride on after a couple of furlongs and it looked as if he had stolen the contest off the last bend.
But Tadgh O’Shea had timed it to perfection and he swept the Michael Halford trained Golly Gosh past inside the furlong pole to win going away by two lengths.
Weld was out of luck as well in the Golf Centre Maiden when even-money chance Former Senator could only manage second to 14-1 chance, Cruzspiel.
The son of Singspiel was driven into the lead over a furlong down by Fran Berry and held on for dear life as he was attacked on all sides.
Cruzspeil completed a double for John Oxx, who saddled Darabela to take the opener.
