Ireland
Derby double for Auguste Rodin in dramatic Irish Derby
The betting suggested that Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh was a simple equation, but in the event there was a deal of disappointment and drama en route to TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) completing the Derby double that had always seemed an inevitability. As the other key Derby runners White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) failed to raise a fist, Ryan Moore first had to manoeuvre the unseating of Wayne Lordan on the stricken San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) on the home turn and then work to subdue the yard's 33-1 shot Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}).
In a finish much more tense than promised, the 4-11 favourite ultimately pulled out enough to beat Adelaide River by 1.5l, while the 80-1 outsider Covent Garden (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) completed a remarkable eighth Irish Derby one-two-three for Aidan O'Brien 2.25l away. This was a 15th success in the race for Aidan O'Brien and a landmark 100th in Classics for the master of Ballydoyle, but for Moore it was a welcome first Irish Derby.
Aidan O'Brien | Image courtesy of Emma Berry
“I've had a lot of disappointment in this race, but Aidan had said to me that Mick Kinane didn't win until Galileo so maybe I just needed a good one to win it,” the rider said after a tactically challenging steering job. “It wasn't a straightforward race. There's a big headwind down the back and a gale blowing behind you in the straight, they went very steady for the first half of the race and my horse was always in a gear too low. I'd have liked something to go on a stride quicker, I wanted to go around Wayne and then had to switch back in and the horse in front was getting a very easy time. I had to go to him early and this is a horse who when he gets to the front tends to wait a bit.”
This renewal came down to being on or near the front end, which can be no surprise to anybody who has witnessed the races that had preceded it during the three-day Irish Derby festival. It was therefore a surprise that White Birch's jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle opted to negate the rare advantage of his mount breaking on terms by restraining him towards the back and handing the favourite a four-to-five length advantage.
Even before San Antonio's unfortunately going amiss four out, it was clear that White Birch was completely misfiring and the fact that he and Sprewell were caught up in the resulting melee had little to no impact on the result. Two out, Auguste Rodin seemed to comfortably have the measure of the pace-setting Adelaide River but all the evidence of the past few days is that Aidan O'Brien's 3-year-old crop are finally getting to their peak. Some of those that were quiet in the spring are leaping forward now and Seamie Heffernan was one who had made significant strides over the past month.
A few strides after the two pole, the body language of Moore and Heffernan offered marked contrast and as they went to the furlong marker it seemed possible that Adelaide River could rally for the upset. While Auguste Rodin hanging down towards the rail may not have affected the result, the overhead film showed clearly that the eventual runner-up was compromised by the intimidation more than once and the winning margin may not be the whole story. All that said, with the non-Ballydoyle contingent so far away from what was required here was a case of yet another Irish Derby resembling no more than a taxing work morning at Rosegreen.
The very real scare that Adelaide River posed in the closing stages outlines that for most of this stable's leading lights, the danger often lies within. Just as we learnt as the Derby also-ran Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) came back to demolish the Blue Riband hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) four years ago, the yard's battalion members gathered in Kildare can never be discounted. As well as Sovereign, O'Brien's other Irish Derby heroes who took major steps forward from Epsom include Soldier Of Fortune (Ire), Frozen Fire (Ger) and Capri (Ire). Adelaide River, who had top juvenile form having placed three times in Pattern races including the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, was just following past precedent.
Aidan O'Brien, who had been at pains to stress on Irish Champions Day last year that Auguste Rodin has the tendency of his high-class dam Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to pull up in front, has always pointed to the Irish Derby as a true and fair test with no excuses. Ryan Moore was offering more complex feedback after this year's winner had crossed the line with ears flicking every which way to the collective exhale of relief from all the cliff-jumping punters.
“When there is a tailwind on the inner track it's not as straightforward as people think,” he said. “You can get different results with a proper wind like today and while the form will look questionable it's just that circumstances conspired against him. He didn't have the opportunity to give me the feel he had at Epsom because the circumstances were different, but he still won–he's done what he had to today and wasn't blowing and didn't turn a hair, so there is plenty more to come. He gets a mile and a half well, but I think he would be fine at 10 as it always felt like they were going too slow for me which indicates he'll be fine coming back in trip.”
Of the trainer's milestone moment, Moore offered his usual measured insight. “Aidan will tell you that it's everyone else and it is, in that it is such a big team effort, but there's a reason you get these results,” he added. “I have a good idea of what makes him different. He's seriously driven and wants the best the whole time. The amount of work he does is quite incredible. People talk about 'genius' and 'attention to detail' and there is that, but there's also another layer and I'm privileged to see it. Probably a lot of people wouldn't understand it.”
“He's (Aidan O'Brien) seriously driven and wants the best the whole time. The amount of work he does is quite incredible. People talk about 'genius' and 'attention to detail' and there is that, but there's also another layer and I'm privileged to see it.” - Ryan Moore
O'Brien gave his own slant on the outcome, which was the 19th time the Derby-Irish Derby double had been achieved. “The Curragh is very fair and very straightforward and one of the best facilities in the world, but it didn't go right in any part of the way today with the wind blowing them sideways going down the back and the lads in front going a gear too slow,” he said. “We wanted a strong, even pace but Ryan felt he was just in two gears too low. He said he was on auto-pilot the whole way up the straight and never clicked in at all and when he got to the front, he was all starry-eyed.
“We knew that the second horse and Wayne's horse would handle this course much better than Epsom and it wasn't a surprise that Adelaide River ran much better,” he added. “It looked workmanlike and that's the fact of it, but Ryan was very adamant that there is so much more in there and we look forward to him the next day. Where that will be depends on the lads and we'll see in a few days.”
Bucanero Fuerte and Unquestionable register Wootton Bassett exacta in Railway thriller
Usurped for favouritism by 'TDN Rising Star' Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Sunday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at the Curragh, Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G2 Coventry S. third Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) gained a measure of compensation for that Royal Ascot reversal with a thrilling victory over his main rival in Sunday's renewal of the six-furlong staging post.
Bucanero Fuerte, a debut scorer over five furlongs on opening day here in March, was swiftly into stride and allowed a gap to build while racing second behind stablemate Lightening Army (GB) (Soldier's Call {GB}), who established a clear advantage by halfway. Easing closer approaching the quarter-mile marker, he locked horns with Unquestionable with 1.5 furlongs remaining and refused to yield under a late drive, outbobbing the 15-8 favourite by a short-head in a nip-and-tuck thriller. The pair were 4.5l clear of the remainder, headed by the runner-up's Listed First Flier-winning stablemate His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) in third.
“He's a tough horse, we took a chance running him back so quickly after (Royal) Ascot and he didn't let us down,” trainer Adrian Murray said. “(Assistant trainer) Robson (Aguair) said he was on fire during the week and we had no other option than to go for it. He's entered in the (G1) Phoenix S. and he could go to France, but we are not sure yet. We'll give him a bit of a break now as he's had two quick runs. He's a big, backward horse and we are not going to rush him. We'll definitely step him up in trip as that's what won it for him today. We made plenty of use of him because we knew he would see it out. He likes a bit of dig in the ground and, if anything, it was a bit quick for him today.”
Kia Ora’s Mooneista places at the Curragh
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Mooneista (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) placed in Sunday’s Listed Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash S. at the Curragh. She was by ridden Dylan Browne McMonagle in the Listed contest and was beaten by Anthem National (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who is from the Starspanglebanner mare Anthem Alexander (Ire) and Commanche Falls (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}).
The 5-year-old mare is owned by the Australian-based Kia Ora Stud and is a daughter of Moon Unit (Ire) (Intikhab {USA}). She was crowned the Champion Older Female Sprinter in Ireland in 2005/06. Mooneista has won three races including the G2 Sapphire S. at the Curragh and finished fourth in the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot.
Germany
Sea The Moon's Fantastic Moon emulates sire with Deutsches Derby triumph
Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered to a wide-margin triumph underneath Hamburg's stands' side rail in the 2014 G1 Deutsches Derby and his Sarah Steinberg-trained son Fantastic Moon (Ger) ploughed the same furrow to claim a clear-cut success of his own in Sunday's latest renewal of the German highlight.
The 31-5 third favourite was positioned well off the pace with just one of his 19 rivals in arrears for the most part. Inching forward on the home turn, he was sent wide into the straight to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and kept on powerfully under late rousting to prevail by 2.25l from 'TDN Rising Star' Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}). Gestut Ebbesloh's homebred Weracruz (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}), the lone filly in a field of 20, stayed on well to finish 2.5l adrift in third.
Fantastic Moon's triumph was a first win in the contest for Rene Piechulek, whose career high came aboard Torquator Tasso (Ger) in 2021's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. “I was able to keep him well relaxed at the back of the field as we knew the trip might be at the extent of his stamina,” he explained. “He galloped easily throughout and quickened really well into the straight where I was able to make full use of his great finishing speed. It is a very emotional moment for my wife and I, we are extremely happy.” The win was also a first edition for trainer Sarah Steinberg, who added, “This almost unbelievable. Fantastic Moon is a very ambitious horse with a big heart and it was good that Rene could settle him way behind and then make use of his great turn of foot.”
Fantastic Moon's pathway to glory began with a perfect two-race 2022 campaign which featured a win in Germany's premier juvenile contest, Cologne's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten, and he met with his only defeat when third behind My Hollywood in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic on seasonal debut at the beginning of May. He regained winning ways in his latest start, accounting for a clutch of reopposing contenders going 10 furlongs in Baden-Baden's May 20 Derby-Trial.
France
Starspangledbanner sires 31st stakes winner
Starspanglebanner sired his 31st stakes winner on Sunday in France, when Exxtra (Fr) scored the Listed Prix Kistena S. at Deauville in France.
Carlos and Yann Lerner train the 3-year-old filly, and has won three races from eleven starts, including placing in the Listed Prix des Reves d’Or.
Starspanglebanner will return to Coolmore Stud, Australia, this season for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
First black-type winner for Magna Grecia
Coolmore's first-crop sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) can be counted among those who are responsible for a black-type winner after his son Myconian (Ire) captured Sunday's Listed Prix Yacowlef at Deauville. Sent off the 29-10 favourite for the five-furlong test, the Amy Murphy-trained son of the Listed Tipperary S. winner and G3 Curragh S. third Sirici (Ire) (Choisir) who was his sire's first winner back in March raced in a close-up second under Aurelien Lemaitre throughout the early stages. Gaining the lead approaching the furlong pole, the €27,000 (AU$40,300) Tatts Ireland September graduate clung on to score by a head as the André Fabre-trained Salva Mea (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) lunged late.
United States
Sire Vino Rosso gets his first stakes winner in Bashford Manor
Representing freshman sire Vino Rosso (USA), The Wine Steward (USA) recorded that stallion's first stakes winner with a victory at Ellis Park in the Bashford Manor S.
With a maiden-breaking score by 6l against New York state-bred company on May 28 at Belmont Park, the Mike Maker trainee shipped to Kentucky. Off at odds of 2-1, the bay colt chased leaders Go Otto Go (USA) (Bolt D'Oro {USA}) and Call Me Andy (USA) (Midshipman {USA}) to the outside of the second flight. Rounding the far turn, The Wine Steward went three-wide with good energy and he put away his rivals past the eighth pole to win by 2.75l.
The Wine Steward is out of a female family which includes MGSW Isotherm (USA) (Lonhro), GISP Giant Game (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}) and GSW Skelly (USA) (Practical Joke {USA}).
Freshman sire Catholic Boy gets his first winner
Lady D'Oro (USA) (Catholic Boy {USA}) is freshman sire Catholic Boy's (USA) first winner with her grass victory at Monmouth Park on Sunday afternoon. The filly was 49-1 in her debut when she finished sixth over a sealed track June 16 at the New Jersey track.
Still overlooked at the windows at 14-1 here, the bay filly avoided Momma Kim's (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) fall, who stumbled up the backstretch after clipping heels with Gold Alliance (USA) (Goldencents {USA}), which also caused Bingo's Girl (USA) (Yoshida {Jpn}) to go down. Rounding the far turn, Lady D'Oro made up ground into the stretch and wrangling Gold Alliance past the eighth pole, she went on to graduate by 0.75l. Gold Alliance was disqualified from third and placed last for interference entering the turn.
Catholic Boy (USA) | Standing at Claiborne Farm
Following the race, Bingo's Girl and Momma Kim walked off under their own power. Jockey Samy Camacho, who was aboard Bingo's Girl, was sent to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch by ambulance for evaluation x-rays following a spill, according to track Medical Director Angelo Chinnici. Camacho, the track's second-leading rider with 29 wins, was excused from the remainder of his mounts on the 10-race card. Jockey Jorge Gonzalez, who was aboard Momma Kim, reported no injuries.
