Life’s a Beach for O’Brien as he experiences the joy of six (in a row - nine in all) in Irish Derby
They went just 6-4 Aidan O’Brien to win the 2012 Irish Derby. Normally you would be inclined to treat such a quote with contempt, but flat racing in this country is being dominated to such an extent by Ballydoyle that it would be simply ridiculous to dismiss 6-4 as any sort of insult.
Treasure Beach led home a 1-2-3 for O’Brien, in front of Seville and Memphis Tennessee and further emphasised the utter stranglehold Ballydoyle has on the game in Ireland.
Indeed compere, Des Scahill, echoed the thoughts of many at the press conference afterwards when his opening remark was “welcome to the annual interview with team Ballydoyle.”
Treasure Beach’s success was a ninth in the race for O’Brien and, remarkably, a sixth in-a-row for him.
It is an astounding statistic when you consider that his predecessor at Ballydoyle, the legendary Vincent O’Brien, won the Derby on just six occasions.
Memphis Tennessee carried them along, but the distress signals began to fly early in the straight and Seville went on with more than two furlongs to go.
Treasure Beach — it is hard to believe he got beaten last season in a Listowel nursery — was soon out after the new leader and was driven to the front well inside the furlong pole by Colm O’Donoghue.
It was a first Irish classic for O’Donoghue, who has had a number of near misses in this race and has been at Ballydoyle since he was 15 years-of-age.
Said O’Donoghue: “This is very exciting, I am very thankful to the owners for letting me ride in these races.
“It is a great honour and I’m delighted to do it today. After riding him at Epsom, I knew the horse would be better here.
“I’ve been placed in this a number of times and had real confidence in Treasure Beach, I think there is more improvement to come. It is every jockey’s dream to win an Irish Derby and it means an awful lot to me.”
When it comes to O’Brien you just run out of superlatives and we have almost come to expect days like this. It was, for instance, the fourth time he has saddled the first three in the Irish Derby. Of course we would all prefer if there was far more competition, but he can only continue to showcase his talents and deal with what’s put in front of him.
Said O’Brien: “The plan was to have an even pace and, I think, that’s what we had. It suited every horse.
“Treasure Beach has progressed with every race and has a number of options. He could go for the King George, the Grand Prix de Paris or have a break. He’s had three quick races and, maybe, will get a break. Colm was excellent, there was a lot riding on the horse.
“Seville puzzled us at Epsom, but came back well today. He is also a possible for the Grand Prix de Paris (Longhamp).”
Seamus Heffernan, who rode Seville, was suspended for two days for using his whip with excessive frequency and not allowing his mount time to respond.
O’Brien indicated that the Great Voltiguer at York could be a target for Memphis Tennessee.
Regarding the presence of Queen Elizabeth’s Carlton House in the Derby, O’Brien said: “We are grateful the Queen let her horse come here, it did a lot for the race.”
The performance of Carlton House, however, will not have done much for the lady’s humour, if she was watching in the television room at Buckingham Palace.
You’d imagine she may have been moved to utter the words: “we are not terribly pleased!”
Michael Stoute’s horses are out of form and this was a poor effort from a colt, who has clearly not progressed at all from Epsom.
He travelled well enough behind the leaders, but found precious little when asked to pick up by Ryan Moore and could only manage a one-paced fourth.
* The attendance was 21,768, down some 2,500 on last year.
