O’Donoghue’s a Derby Treasure
However, I, with the mechanisms of my mind still limping towards lucidity after Saturday night’s post-Curraheen Park celebrations (Youghal owned winner of the Red Mills All-Ireland Trial Stake final) coerced me to a state of excess, did not possess the wherewithal to get too deeply involved in such ruminations.
The purpose of my journey was the Irish Derby and I ought to have felt a compulsion to turn the race over and over in my head but, thanks to Aidan O’Brien’s annual annihilation, the result was as good as written.
So the miles passed by and my mind, unwaveringly blank, enjoyed blissful solitude to the point when I arrived at the vast Kildare venue. Open spaces, swirling breezes and rising dust offered first greeting to my still tender condition but the Curragh in blazing sunshine can right all wrongs and, as the day wore on and I emerged from torpidity, the real wrong to be righted came in the shape of Treasure Beach in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
Twelve months ago, more bright-eyed and bushier of tail, I enjoyed the spectacle of Johnny Murtagh at his masterful best bringing Cape Blanco late and fast to spearhead the third Ballydoyle 1-2-3 of Aidan O’Brien’s illustrious training career.
In behind, nearly-man Colm O’Donoghue was confined to the runner-up spot for the second successive year. But his star was on the rise and, by the end of the season, when Murtagh had vacated the hot seat as number one jockey to racing’s most powerful stable, such was his standing that the Corkman was being hotly tipped to assume the role.
Where Ballydoyle goes Classic success follows and such victories would be a formality for whichever rider counted themselves lucky enough to in pole position. Season 2011 began with no announcement of a replacement for Murtagh and the employment of the best available jockey might have served as a discouragement to those riders already incumbent in the Tipperary stable. But resolve is key to success in this cut-throat sport and O’Donoghue’s loyalty was rewarded with the ride aboard Treasure Beach, the most fancied of O’Brien’s four runners, in yesterday’s Classic.
In the Epsom Derby, under the expert handling of O’Donoghue, a brilliant ride was foiled by Mickael Barzalona and Pour Moi.
Different day. Different track. Same tactics. Different result.
Again, O’Donoghue brought Treasure Beach with a challenge just outside the furlong marker. Pushing and willing his mount past stable companions Seville and Memphis Tennessee, he hit the front with 100 yards to go and this time he would not be denied.
Fist pumping, cheering and palpable relief from the rider.
Treasure Beach’s threequarters of a length victory franked the form of the Epsom race as he had finished a close second to Pour Moi, while the Seamie Heffernan ridden second placed Seville (5/1) performed much better here after being unplaced in the Epsom edition.
Aidan O’Brien said the 7/2 winner deserved his win in the €1.2m race.
“Colm was excellent on Treasure Beach and settled him beautifully before producing him brilliantly.
“Treasure Beach has progressed with every run and he has a few options now — he could go for the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Ascot for which he is quoted at 12/1), or else he could have a break before coming back for the second half of the season (he has earned a quote of 5/1 for the English St Leger).”
O’Donoghue’s first Derby winner numbered six in succession and nine in total for Aidan O’Brien, and seven on the bounce for the Coolmore operation. More than the horse, more than the owners and more than the trainer, the loudest cheer was reserved for the winning rider.
Under intense pressure from baying reporters, O’Donoghue adopted the O’Brien trait of selfless deflection, his post-race reaction reiterating his commitment to the stable and his appreciation of the privileged position he finds himself in.
“I’ve spent half my life in Ballydoyle so it means a lot to me,” said the Buttevant man. “It’s every Irish jockey’s dream to win an Irish Derby. It’s a feeling of relief more than anything else as I had been placed in the race a number of times.
“I’m working for great people and I’m grateful they’ve given me the chance to ride in the race.
“I had a lot of confidence in my horse going into Epsom and I had a lot of confidence today. He travelled well and he quickened up well to the line he won snug enough so hopefully there’s more to come.”
Ballydoyle may not have committed to a number one jockey but O’Donoghue remains committed to Ballydoyle, and yesterday’s success might remind the impinging riders that the greatest competition for the coveted seat still comes from within.
