Benvenuto Cellini leads home a Ballydoyle one-two-three in the Irish Derby
Benvenuto Cellini, with Ryan Moore up, on their way to winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Pic: Thomas Doolin/Sportsfile.
Three weeks later than envisaged, Benvenuto Cellini got a Derby on his CV when leading home a Ballydoyle one-two-three in the Irish Classic at the Curragh.
Controversially deemed a non-runner at Epsom after a stalls incident, Benvenuto Cellini came here on a redemption mission and the 7-4 favourite duly delivered in the hands of Ryan Moore to give Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 18th Irish Derby success.
After the Epsom stalls drama, all eyes were on Benvenuto Cellini at the start and the Frankel colt was again sluggish from the gates.
However, by the fourth furlong, Benvenuto Cellini had gone from last to fifth as stablemate Action cut out the running.
Christmas Day took up the running on the turn for home but Moore acted decisively to cover the move and Benvenuto Cellini hit the front a furlong and a half from home and kept up the gallop all the way to the line to win by a length and three-quarters and deny the Epsom hero a Derby double.
Pierre Bonnard ran his best race of a hitherto underwhelming season to finish a close third to ensure O’Brien emulated last month’s French Derby feat of saddling the first three horses home.
Moore has found himself on the wrong Ballydoyle horse more often than he would have liked this season so O’Brien was pleased his jockey’s decision to keep faith with Benvenuto Cellini when he could have jumped ship to Christmas Day was vindicated.
“All the things seemed to conspire against him at Epsom,” O’Brien said. “It was very difficult for Ryan, I thought it was probably impossible to make up two furlongs. He wasn’t beaten one furlong; he was beaten two in Epsom. I’m delighted for Ryan because it was a difficult decision.”
Moore said: “Epsom was just a mess. Obviously we had the stalls [problem] and everything but with the ground being the way it was, that was the only time I’ve ridden in the Derby when we haven’t stayed on the far side. It was an unusual set of circumstances and the way Epsom gets when it’s like that you have to be close to the pace and because of what happened he had no hope.
“He’s still a little bit babyish. There’s nothing wrong with his temperament. Unfortunately at Epsom the horse beside me kicked out, he kicked out and we made a mistake, but slowly those things are getting ironed out, hopefully he’ll continue to learn and continue to do things better.”
On whether he thought about riding Christmas Day instead, the rider added: “I spoke with Aidan as I rushed through the airport on Friday morning and we decided we’d stick with him [Benvenuto Cellini] hoping the ground was going to be nicer and we believed he had quality.
“But to be honest, we always felt all three of them could win and they’ve finished one-two-three. On different days with different circumstances, any of them could have won.”
Looking ahead, the Irish and English Derby winners will likely be kept apart for the rest of the season with O’Brien identifying the Irish Champion Stakes over 10 furlongs as a probable target for Benvenuto Cellini while Christmas Day will likely go out in trip in the St Leger.
“Benvenuto is a beautiful mover with a lot of class. Ryan felt we’d rather go back to a mile and a quarter than go any further than a mile and a half, so that’s class,” O’Brien said.
“I’d imagine he might have a little rest and could go for the Irish Champion Stakes or something like that. He will also be well suited for America — fast ground with pace on — so he could be readymade for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Christmas Day will probably be going the Leger route, he’ll stay very well.”
Of the runner-up, jockey Ronan Whelan said: “He ran a cracker. The ground was a bit of a worry coming here but it shows how tough he is. He galloped away and ran all the way to the line. He strikes you as a nice Leger horse going forward.”
Irish Derby glory completed a double for O’Brien and Moore as Alpha justified 8-11 favouritsm to win the opening race, the GAIN Equine Nutrition Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, with a minimum of fuss, crossing the line six lengths clear of stablemate Ibelieveicanfly.
“She had a lovely run first time and we were going to go to the Chesham with her but then the other horse [Aix La Chapelle] won here first time out and we let him go instead of her and he got taken out at the stalls,” O’Brien said.
“But it definitely wasn’t the wrong choice for this filly because it’s all gradual for her. She’ll come back here for the Debutante.”
