3 minute read
Aidan O'Brien dominated the Curragh undercard on Irish Oaks day when he completed a treble highlighted by a most impressive success for American import Darwin in the Invesco Pension Consultants Minstrel Stakes.
A son of Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown, Darwin looked smart when winning a three-runner race on his Irish debut last month and confirmed that promise with victory in this Grade Three event.
Joseph O'Brien got the 8-11 favourite organised two and a half furlongs out as he reeled in leader Leitir Mor, and he began to hit full stride shortly afterwards. Gordon Lord Byron, a Group One winner in his own right, tried to throw down a challenge, but Darwin looked better the further he went and had a comfortable length and three-quarters in hand.
O'Brien snr, who had already won with Wilshire Boulevard and Australia, said: "We're delighted with that. He came to us with a massive reputation and you can see why. He's an unbelievable cruiser and Joseph said he felt like they were hacking. When he asked him to quicken, Joseph said he quickened and the race was over.
"He's not short of pace, but you'd think he'd get a mile well anyway. When he won his maiden Todd Pletcher was jumping around the place about him and you can see why he was. He was doing the times in America as well. He only won a conditions race a few weeks ago and is still a baby. He has plenty of options and he could go to Deauville."
Wilshire Boulevard outpointed better-fancied stablemate Oklahoma City to give O'Brien a one-two in the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey Stakes.
Oklahoma City was sent off the evens favourite and Joseph O'Brien soon had him in the led on the stands rail. He ran on strongly, but was no match for Wilshire Boulevard (7-1), who seemed to relish the step back up to six furlongs as he challenged a furlong and a half out under Seamie Heffernan and scored by three-quarters of a length.
O'Brien snr said: "We left the hood off today and he settled well. He's a brother to Zoffany and like a lot of the Holy Roman Emperors (sire), he seems to be improving." The Ballydoyle handler added of the runner-up: "I was happy with the run and he will probably step up to seven furlongs now."
Australia (3-10 favourite) got off the mark at the second attempt with victory in the Darley EBF Maiden. The son of Galileo out of the brilliant Ouija Board was again a little tardy from the gates, but he was quickly moved up to track the front-running Billboard and once taking over, he was driven out to beat newcomer Carla Bianca by three-quarters of a length.
The winning trainer said: "He is still very babyish. He was slow away again and he seems to go asleep in the stalls. We will take our time with him. He could be anything as the penny hasn't really dropped with him yet. He has a lot of talent."
