Beautiful books classic ticket
Aidan O’Brien will aim All Too Beautiful at the Vodafone Oaks without another outing after the filly ran out a comprehensive winner at Navan yesterday.
The full-sister to Derby winner Galileo, sent off the 4-7 favourite, kept her unbeaten record when she led over a furlong out to beat Queen Astrid by two and a half lengths in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.
Ladbrokes now make her 14-1 joint-favourite (from 16s) for the Oaks together with Sundrop, while Coral have her as 12-1 (from 14) joint second-favourite with the same horse.
The Ballydoyle trainer said: “She’s always been a beauty at home. Jamie (Spencer) gave her a lovely ride and taught her plenty today.
“The plan has always been to give her two runs and go for the Oaks, so she will go straight to Epsom now.”
There was an incident one and a half furlongs out when Michael Kinane took a nasty fall after Sahara Sonnet slipped up, but he got to his feet afterwards, though he was badly shaken.
And bad news followed for Spencer in the aftermath and he was suspended for four days for careless riding.
His ban starts on May 3, the day after the UltimateBet.com 1000 Guineas, and includes May 5, 6 and 7. He will be back in time to ride Vodafone Derby favourite Yeats at Leopardstown the following weekend.
He is already banned for 1000 Guineas day, though that is subject to an appeal.
Kinane was taken to Navan Hospital for precautionary X-rays on his neck after the incident, but was not thought to be badly hurt.
Sahara Sonnet received cuts that were believed to be superficial when she collided with an ambulance on running free with her blinkers dropped down on her face.
O’Brien will also be represented in the Epsom Classic by Necklace, who heads the market with Coral on 10-1.
He said: “The plan with her is to go for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and if all goes well, the 1000 Guineas at the Curragh, and then the Oaks at Epsom.
“She has had a few days away (for racecourse gallops) and is in good form.”
O’Brien also reported favourite One Cool Cat on target for the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next weekend.
“I’m very happy with him. He has wintered well and everything has gone well with him so far,” he said.
One Cool Cat was the subject of serious ante-post support today for next week’s Classic, with Coral forced to cut him to 9-4 from 5-2.
“As soon as we opened this morning, some of our shrewdest punters were backing One Cool Cat, and it was no surprise when we later heard rumours that he had done an impressive piece of work,” said spokesman Simon Clare.
O’Brien added that Tumblebrutus is also a possible for the colts’ Classic.
