Tag: Aidan O’Brien

Breeders’ Cup Mile Hero On Top At The Curragh

Winless in five starts since annexing last year's edition of the Curragh's G2 Romanised Minstrel S., 2020's GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}–Senta's Dream {GB}, by Danehill) repeated the dose with a 3 1/2-length triumph in Sunday's latest renewal of the seven-furlong contest at the Co. Kildare venue. The 5-year-old entire, who also hit the board in last term's G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin, arrived for this defence coming back off a third in last month's G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot and broke smartly to lead from flagfall. In command until bustled along when tackled by Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 4-5 favourite soon had that rival's measure and was ridden clear in the closing stages to win by a comfortable 3 1/2 lengths. Dr Kempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) kept on well to finish a half length adrift in third.

“He's a lovely horse, he has loads of speed, he's tough, genuine and hardy,” said Aidan O'Brien after notching a seventh renewal. “He ran a lovely race first time back at [Royal] Ascot this year and the plan was to come here and go on to the [G1] Sussex [at Goodwood] with him. Obviously he's a Breeders Cup Mile winner so he has plenty of class and, as he's getting older, he's getting quicker and stronger. He was working very well going to Ascot, but it was his first run [of the year] so he had to tire a little bit and that's what he did do. He's very straight forward to ride, he's very sound and we're delighted with him. The plan is to go to the Sussex and finish up at the Breeders Cup and he could go to Hong Kong and do all those races. He's at that great age now that he's seasoned, has experience, and he's quicker this year which is great. That'll be a big help in those big races.”

Pedigree Notes:

Order Of Australia, one of his sire's five top-level winners, is kin to a pair of elite-level scorers, viz multiple Group 1-winning GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) and last term's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational heroine Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Their dam Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill) is one of only two foals produced by GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare and GI Matriarch S. victrix Starine (Fr) (Mendocino). Starine, in turn, is a half-sister to G3 Prix Minerve third Pearlescence (Pleasantly Perfect), with both being out of a half-sister to the dam of Listed Criterium du Bequet third Weld Elven (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}).

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
ROMANISED MINSTREL S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 7-17, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:25.24, gd.
1–ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (IRE), 136, h, 5, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Starine (Fr), by Mendocino
3rd Dam: Grisonnante (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €72,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 7-9.5f, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 7-9.5f, GISW-US, MG1SP-Fr & G1SP-Eng, 17-5-1-3, $1,678,275. *1/2 to Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), MG1SW-Ire, G1SW-Eng & GISW-US, $1,988,198; and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}, MGISW-US & G1SP-Ire, $731,938. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pearls Galore (Fr), 133, m, 5, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pearl Banks (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair du Mont (FR); T-Paddy Twomey. €24,000.
3–Dr Zempf (GB), 129, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Souvenir Delondres (Fr), by Siyouni (Fr). (420,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Peter M Brant; B-Stratford Place Stud (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €12,000.
Margins: 3HF, HF, 3HF. Odds: 0.80, 1.88, 6.50.
Also Ran: Prisoner's Dilemma (GB), Real Appeal (Ger). Scratched: Snapraeterea (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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No Nay Never’s Blackbeard Powers To Robert Papin Triumph

Nailed in the dying strides of in last month's G2 Railway S. at The Curragh, Aidan O'Brien trainee Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never–Muirin {Ire}, by Born To Sea {Ire}) bounced back in style to lead home a Ballydoyle exacta in Sunday's G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly. In so doing, he provided trainer O'Brien with a first winner of the six-furlong contest this century and, adding to Rossini's win in 1999, a second overall. The February-foaled bay had earlier backed up an Apr. 28 debut triumph at Dundalk with wins at the Curragh in the May 2 Listed First Flier S. and May 21 G3 Marble Hill S. and preceded his Railway second with a fourth in the June 14 G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. Blackbeard shared pacemaking duties on the front end from the outset. Gaining outright control passing the quarter-mile pole, the 6-5 favourite was not for catching thereafter and kept on strongly under mild urging inside the final furlong to easily outpoint stablemate The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by three lengths for a career high. Listed Prix La Fleche runner-up Vicious Harry (Fr) (Harry Angel {Fr}) fared best of the remainder and was a further three lengths back in third.

“He's a nice horse and he won easy, very easy,” commented rider Ioritz Mendizabal. “Before and after the race he was not so easy, but in the race he was easy, and next time I will speak with Ryan [Moore] beforehand. When we hit the front he went a little bit left, but normally that is because they are a little bit babyish. It's incredible for me to ride for Aidan [O'Brien], my agent got me the ride and then I spoke with Aidan this morning. If Aidan wants to bring him back to France, I will be free every time.”

O'Brien added, “He's coming forward as he was a baby all along and I was delighted with him. Even though he was babyish today, Ioritz was very impressed with him. He said he's gone very professional and won very easy. He's definitely progressing. We wanted to divide them up, with Little Big Bear running at the Curragh yesterday, and he's now in the mix for the [G1] Phoenix Stakes or the [G1] Prix Morny.” Reflecting on the performance of runner-up The Antarctic, the trainer continued, “We were very happy with The Antarctic. He's coming along as well although he's probably still not really there yet, but he's definitely progressing.”

Blackbeard, one of his sire's 21 pattern-race winners, is the first foal bred from Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), whose own dam Girouette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) collected the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. and is also the second dam of Listed Prix du Grand Camp-winning Polish champion Night Tornado (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Blackbeard's stakes-placed third dam Vassiana (Fr) (Anabaa), whos decsendants include dual Group 3 winner Max Vega (Ire), is a full-sister to G3 Prix d'Arenberg victrix Villadolide (Fr) and Listed Prix Hampton and Listed Prix du Cercle scorer Victorieux (Fr). The next dam Domludge (Lyphard) is a half-sister to multiple elite-level winner and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Mrs Penny (Great Nephew {GB}) and a full-sister to G3 Prix Vanteaux third Cadeaux d'Amie (Lyphard), herself the dam of multiple Group 1-winning 1000 Guineas heroine Hatoof (Irish River {Fr}). Muirin has a yearling full-sister to Blackbeard to come.

Sunday, Chantilly, France
DARLEY PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 7-17, 2yo, 6fT, 1:08.31, gd.
1–BLACKBEARD (IRE), 128, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire)
2nd Dam: Girouette (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Vassiana (Fr), by Anabaa
(270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ioritz Mendizabal. €74,100. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 6-4-1-0, €174,740. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Antarctic (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg & Brant; B-Bally Philip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,600.
3–Vicious Harry (Fr), 126, c, 2, Harry Angel (Ire)–Umneeyatee (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€28,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT). O-Cuadra Mediterraneo; B-Medya SARL & Tarik Tekce (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €13,650.
Margins: 3, 3, NO. Odds: 1.20, 6.80, 7.80.
Also Ran: Belbek (Fr), Lova (Fr), Bottle Of Bubbles (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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The Tough Get Going At Chantilly

It's getting hotter by the hour in Europe and Sunday's pattern-race tests at Chantilly and The Curragh will call for that extra element from the protagonists who brave the heat. One who has shown abundant courage despite being just a greenhorn is Ballydoyle's Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), who tackles the six-furlong G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin which will be his sixth juvenile start and third since his impressive success in The Curragh's G3 Marble Hill S. over this trip May 21. Aidan O'Brien is not known for taking in this prize, which was formerly a 5 1/2-furlong contest staged at the now defunct Maisons-Laffitte, but he changes tack this year and also saddles The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who looked in need of this trip when a narrow third in the five-furlong June 29 Listed Tipperary S. Nurlan Bizakov's Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) heads the home defence for the Andre Fabre stable, returning to the course and distance of his defeat of the re-opposing Lova (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) in the June 19 G3 Prix du Bois.

 

Kildare Pearls

At The Curragh, the seven-furlong G2 Romanised Minstrel S. sees Haras De Saint Pair's Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) bid for a fourth group success having extended that tally in this venue's G2 Lanwades Stud S. over a mile May 22. Ballydoyle's stalwart Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is back to defend his title in this race, having shown up well for a long way when third in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne S. June 14, while Peter Brant's 'TDN Rising Star' Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) puts his reputation on the line in deeper waters than when successful in Leopardstown's G3 Ballycorus S. over this trip June 9. The card's nine-furlong G2 Kilboy Estate S. is a wide-open affair, with Lael Stables' June 5 G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) back from a mile-and-a-quarter trip that might have stretched her when fifth in the track's June 26 G1 Pretty Polly S.

   Click here for the group fields.

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No Nay Never’s Little Big Bear Too Good In The Anglesey

He had already looked one of Ballydoyle's brightest prospects prior to Saturday's G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey S., but TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) now looks the real deal after running away with The Curragh's juvenile staging post. Withdrawn from the G2 July S. when the ground got too quick at Newmarket, the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. winner led all bar the rail-running Kodi Noir (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}) throughout the early stages with that outsider on borrowed time. Asked to pick up heading to two out, the 2-5 favourite drew away in impressive fashion to register a 4 3/4-length verdict over Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal), with the filly Badb (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) half a length away in third.

 

“He's always shown a lot and is a lovely smooth traveller who's very uncomplicated,” commented Aidan O'Brien, who was recording a 12th success in this race and putting him one behind the late great Vincent O'Brien. “He's very happy to make the running and very happy to sit in. Ryan said he couldn't believe how easily he was going down past the two today. He said when he asked him the response was very quick. Even though he's big, he's very strong and mature, he's powerful. Interestingly, Ryan said today that he could be a Dewhurst horse or a National Stakes horse. Obviously he's running through the line and that's a good sign. You'd have to have him as a Guineas horse, definitely at the moment. When they feel like they are going to get seven at two they usually get a mile at three. He could obviously come back here for the Phoenix Stakes, that would be the plan and that's what we were thinking coming here today.”

Little Big Bear looks like a potential miler on racing style and on pedigree, being out of the Listed Prix de Liancourt winner and G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up and and GI E P Taylor S. fourth Adventure Seeker (Fr) (Bering {GB}) who produced the G3 Hobart Cup runner-up Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway). A half to the G3 Princess Margaret S.-placed Along Again (Ire) (Elusive City), she is a granddaughter of the legendary All Along (Fr), the French champion and US Horse of the Year in 1983 courtesy of her G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, GI Turf Classic, G1 Rothmans International and GI Washington D. C. International victories. Adventure Seeker's yearling is a full-brother to Little Big Bear.

Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland
JEBEL ALI RACECOURSE & STABLES ANGLESEY S.-G3, €65,450, Curragh, 7-16, 2yo, 6f 66yT, 1:17.82, gd.
1–LITTLE BIG BEAR (IRE), 131, c, 2, by No Nay Never
     1st Dam: Adventure Seeker (Fr) (SW & GSP-Fr, $155,312), by Bering (GB)
     2nd Dam: American Adventure, by Miswaki
     3rd Dam: All Along (Fr), by Targowice
1ST GROUP WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Camas Park Stud & Summerhill (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 4-3-1-0, $117,946. *1/2 to Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway), GSP-Aus, $352,585. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Yosemite Valley (GB), 131, c, 2, Shamardal–That Which Is Not, by Elusive Quality.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd. (GB); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €11,000.
3–Badb (Ire), 128, f, 2, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Belong (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O/B-Mrs Ann Marie O'Brien (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €5,500.
Margins: 4 3/4, HF, HD. Odds: 0.40, 9.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Slan Abhaile (Ire), Thunderbear (Ire), Kodi Noir (Ire). Scratched: Voce Del Palio (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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