Double delight for Team O’Brien
The master of Ballydoyle completed the Guineas double at Newmarket last weekend and unleashed two more potential stars on the Roodee.
Guineas hero Camelot is already odds-on with some bookmakers for next month’s Investec Derby and stablemate Astrology could join him at Epsom after a dominating performance in the Stobart Barristers Dee Stakes.
In a field depleted by the defection of likely favourite Bonfire, 11-10 market leader Astrology was sent straight to the head of affairs by Joseph O’Brien.
It was clear before the home turn that his three opponents were struggling to keep up and O’Brien only had to keep his mount up to his work in the straight to come home with a full 11 lengths in hand over Oxford Charley.
Paddy Power cut Astrology to 20-1 from 33-1 for the Derby, although the trainer insisted plans for the race have yet to be finalised with key trials coming up in the next week.
O’Brien senior said: “He was a nice colt last year and he ran well in a Group Two (Futurity Stakes, third to Dragon Pulse) in Ireland and a nice race in a Group Three (Autumn Stakes) at Newmarket.
“We were worried about the ground, but he is a typical Galileo with a really nice rhythm.
“We will see how things develop, we’ve got Wrote who runs at Leopardstown (in the Derrinstown on Sunday) and he has been in good form since Dubai.
“Furner’s Green goes to France (French 2000 Guineas on Sunday) but doesn’t have the best of the draw and Ernest Hemingway will run in the Dante (at York on Thursday) as long as the ground is good.”
The same father-son combination soon found the target again as Memphis Tennessee looked an improved performer in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes.
The four-year-old ran creditably to finish fourth in last year’s Derby at Epsom and was a similarly promising third in the Irish equivalent at the end of June.
Making his first start since, his only conceivable danger was the talented Brown Panther.
As that rival was beaten a long way from home, it was a relatively easy task for even-money favourite Memphis Tennessee and he accounted for Vivacious Vivienne by four lengths. The winning trainer said: “We’re delighted with him. He was a lovely horse last year, but he’s grown up a lot.
“He’s a lovely mover and I have no doubt he’ll be better on better ground.
“It won’t be a problem to drop back in trip with him and we might consider races like the the Coronation Cup or the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’s open to everything.”
