A wonderful day for Master of Ballydoyle?
The Ballydoyle maestro took the first of the season’s classics, the 2000 Guineas, with Roderic O’Connor, who gave his son Joseph a first Classic success, and a day later followed up with Misty For Me in the 1000 Guineas.
Then came that famous day in the Irish Derby at the Curragh when the Colm O’Donoghue-ridden Treasure Beach led home the trainer’s fourth 1-2-3 in Ireland’s Premier classic.
Just a few weeks on and O’Brien has a chance to continue towards a nap hand which he achieved in 2008 when Halfway To Heaven (1000 Guineas), Henrythenavigator (2000 Guineas), Frozen fire (Derby), Moonstone (Oaks) and Septimus (Leger) earned him the distinction of becoming the first trainer since 1935 to win all Classics in the same season.
Despite not enjoying the track, Wonder Of Wonders won the Cheshire Oaks with something to spare and she was inconvenienced by the slow pace when failing to get past Dancing Rain in the Epsom Oaks. At the Curragh, where a natural emphasis is put on stamina, she should prove very hard to beat but Dancing Rain, who repelled her challenge at Epsom, is reportedly in great form and trainer William Haggas is hopeful of confirming the form.
Many believed the filly benefited from a fantastic front-running ride from Johnny Murtagh last month and that those behind her were at a disadvantage.
Haggas said: “We’ll see whether it was just a fantastic ride by Johnny (Murtagh) at Epsom or if she was good enough to win.
“She just needs a good gallop. She’s a long-striding filly and a lengthener, rather than a quickener, and needs a gallop. If there’s no gallop she’ll have to make (the running).
“She seems to have come on since Epsom and is in good shape. She ran well as a two-year-old on soft and goes well on fast. I think she is such a fluent mover that fast ground will be ideal, but we can’t do anything about the weather.”
Jim Bolger runs Ribblesdale winner Banimpire and Hurricane Havoc, while Godolphin also have two representatives, 1000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting and the supplemented Rumh.
Blue Bunting has already won a Classic after surprising even her own connections in the 1000 Guineas.
The Dynaformer filly was then sent off favourite for the Oaks at Epsom after trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni felt she would improve for the step up in trip. She eventually finished fourth, with Frankie Dettori having received a ban for dropping his hands.
“We always thought she had ability, but we always thought she was a mile-and-a-half filly before she won the Guineas,” said Al Zarooni.
“The pace really helped her (at Newmarket) and she stayed on. I wouldn’t say she was unlucky at Epsom but the pace was too slow. Mile-and-a-half fillies always come from behind and prefer a fast pace.
“The filly has ability and she’s proved she’s a class filly and she can do it again.
“I think she likes fast ground but it was soft ground when she won her maiden. She won’t mind the ground.
“She did very well after the Oaks, she’s stronger and better and more relaxed now. We just need the luck. If you are not in it you cannot win it.”
Jim Bolger’s Banimpire was having her seventh race of the season when winning the Ribblesdale at Ascot.
“I hope we have her in as good a form as we’ve had her all year. If that is so, we expect her to give a good account of herself,” said Bolger.
“She is entirely reliable. We felt she was in good form for Royal Ascot and was up for it on the day. We were a bit concerned about the going but she seemed to cope with that fairly well.
“She is gutsy and has a fair level of talent. Those two together combine to make her a useful racehorse.”
