Second choice proves lovely for Lordan
Precise and Wayne Lordan win the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas for trainer Aidan O'Brien at the Curragh. Picture: Healy Racing
As jobs go, there are far worse gigs than being second jockey at Ballydoyle. Just ask Wayne Lordan. It’s less than a year since he added the Derby to an already impressive CV when partnering Lambourn, the apparent second string, to victory at Epsom.
Fast forward to Newmarket on the first Sunday this month and the Cork-born jockey was at it again, riding True Love to victory in the English 1000 Guineas, a race in which stablemate Precise, the favourite and choice of Ryan Moore, finished seventh.
On the back of that result, it was no surprise that Moore opted to jettison Precise to partner True Love in Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas but it was the bigger priced of the Ballydoyle pair who prevailed again to give Lordan a second Classic success for the season.
It was an impressive success too as the daughter of Starspangledbanner, a 4-1 shot here, showed an impressive turn of foot in the last furlong to turn the tables on her Newmarket conqueror by two and a half lengths.
Aidan O’Brien, winning the race for a record-extending 12th time, said: “She really stepped forward today and Wayne gave her a beautiful ride.
“In Newmarket, Ryan was on the wrong side and when he made his move, she got tired, needed the run and Ryan looked after her in the last half-furlong.
“Roger [Quinlan], who rides her every day, said this morning that she was a different filly than the one going to Newmarket. Wayne gave her a beautiful ride and we’re over the moon.”
Reflecting on the dilemma faced by Moore in choosing between the classy pair, O’Brien added: “It is very difficult on Ryan and we discussed riding arrangements before declaration time. It was very hard for him not to ride True Love. He didn’t ride her in Newmarket because we weren’t sure she would get a mile but she did.
“Precise was only beaten five lengths at Newmarket, which isn’t that much for this type of filly but she is a serious one and is as good as we’ve had. It looks like she will have no problem going further.”
That could happen in less than two weeks as the Epsom Oaks looks likely to be her next assignment.
O’Brien added: “Obviously the lads will make the decision regarding running in the English Oaks so we’ll see how she comes out of today. There is a good chance she’ll run and Ryan felt today that she was running to go to the Oaks.
“It is very exciting and she has an incredible pedigree.”
Precise was the final part of a Ballydoyle treble, the middle leg of which was provided by Great Barrier Reef backing up last month’s impressive course and distance debut success by getting the better of stablemate Carry The Flag by a length and a quarter in the Group 3 Kilkea Castle Marble Hill Stakes.
Carry The Flag led for the bulk of the six-furlong contest but Great Barrier Reef, sent off the 8-15 favourite, got on top in the closing stages to shoot to the head of the market for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
O’Brien said of the No Nay Never colt: “We pitched him into a deep piece of work the last day at home, which he got a bit lost in, so we weren’t sure if there was a reason but there wasn’t. He came out of the work very well and fresh but we weren’t sure about today.
“Ryan said he was very green in the stalls and that he missed the break, so gave him a chance in the first part of the race. He said he flew home, but that he had had to get hold of him and to teach him. He is obviously very high-class and should get seven [furlongs].
“If he comes out of this OK, we could let him go to the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and you would have to be very happy with him.”
In the opening race, the Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, Sun Goddess was priced as if defeat was out of the question and she duly delivered at odds of 4-11.
The Sioux Nation filly was beaten on debut at Naas earlier this month but was in firm command a long way from home here, crossing the line five lengths in front of Green Express.
O’Brien said: “We got her out the first day just in case she’s an Ascot filly and she ran so well, that’s why she’s back here. She could be an Albany filly, if she knows enough. She’s still very green, Ryan said she was very green between the two and the one [furlong pole] and he said she started to go again after that. She’s a big rangy filly and she’ll improve plenty as she goes. She’s lovely.”
