Chaparral back in the groove
High Chaparral is back on track for the big autumn prizes after playing his part in a red-letter day for trainer Aidan O’Brien at the Curragh yesterday.
The dual Derby hero showed all his old sparkle to win the Group Two Royal Whip Stakes, for which he was sent off the 9-10 favourite.
Travelling strongly, he was asked to quicken over a furlong out by Michael Kinane and swept past his rivals before hanging slightly right in the closing stages as he tired.
That allowed Mick Channon’s Imperial Dancer to close down the margin of victory, but he was still three-quarters of a length behind at the line.
High Chaparral collected a shoulder injury in the spring which delayed his seasonal reappearance, but with this victory he is back on schedule for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and a possible return to the States for the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita.
He signed off with success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year.
“All ground comes alike to him but he won’t be risked if it isn’t safe – we need him around this autumn,” said O’Brien.
“I think Mick was very impressed with him there. He pricked his ears and got a bit tired when he hit the front, but that was to be expected.
“He was very mature at two and three and all I ever wanted was for him to retain his ability. The choices for him now are one of the Arc trials at Longchamp (the Prix Foy) or the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.”
O’Brien reflected on the problems which delayed his charge’s return to the fray.
“He just stopped dead when he was working, which is usually a very bad sign,” he said. “But we gave him all the time he needed and when he cantered here three weeks ago he showed the right signs.”
Ladbrokes cut High Chaparral’s price for the Arc into 5-1 from 6-1. Dalakhani remains 5-2 favourite.
O’Brien had introduced a smart newcomer to the game in the opening Waterford Crystal EBF Maiden as Troubador made a winning bow.
The 100-30 chance was easy to back but landed a forthright success under Kinane, beating favourite Ulfah by three and a half lengths.
“He is a big baby,” said O’Brien of the Danehill colt, owned jointly by Robert Sangster and John Magnier.
“We won’t overdo him and he might have just one more run this season. He got away as a yearling and nearly killed himself but ended up with just superficial injuries, so we are lucky to have him at all.”
Necklace completed a fine four-timer for O’Brien and Kinane as she came through strongly to take the Robert H Griffin Debutante Stakes from Mick Channon’s Caldy Dancer.
O’Brien’s filly was well backed from 5-2 into 7-4, unlike the Barry Hills-trained Lucky Pipit, who was easy to back and went off at 5-2, having opened at 7-4.
The market proved to be spot on as Lucky Pipit ran no sort of race and beat just one home.
O’Brien said of the winner: “She comes back here for the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She did well first time for a Darshaan to finish fast for second over six furlongs.”
Jamie Spencer, who deputised for Murtagh on the runner-up, said: “She ran a big race. It was good to get her Group-placed and the winner is pretty good.”
Lucky Pipit’s jockey Michael Hills reported to the stewards that his mount got upset down at the start and missed the break.
She was soon in touch to halfway but weakened and was eased notably in the final furlong.
British raider Bonus looked an improved performer as he landed his first Group race, the Phoenix Sprint, under a confident ride from Richard Hughes.
The Richard Hannon-trained three-year-old easily accounted for Sun Slash by a length and a half.
“We have never had a horse progress as much as he has done in such a short space of time,” said Harry Herbert, manager of the winning owners, Highclere Thoroughbreds.
“He will probably only have one more run this season, which could be in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Hopefully he will be an even better horse as a four-year-old.”
