With two Classics already added to his CV this season, Donnacha O’Brien is now on the hunt for a Royal Ascot winner and the teenage sensation has nominated Order Of St George as the horse he would most like to ride next week.
The Ballydoyle riding arrangements have yet to be finalised, but there was no hesitation when O’Brien was asked which of his father’s string he would most like to be called up for.
Ascot Gold Cup, card, form and betting
“Oh, definitely Order Of St George. I’d love a go on him in the Gold Cup,” replied the Oaks-winning jockey.
“He’s the best stayer around and it’s the biggest race of the week, so who wouldn’t love to ride him? He’s come back as good as ever this year and seems in great form at home. He’s the one they all have to beat in that race.”
O’Brien was on board red-hot Coventry favourite Sergei Prokofiev for his sole defeat in a Dundalk maiden on his first appearance in April, but the son of Scat Daddy you saw there and the son of Scat Daddy you see now are two entirely different creatures, according to the current table-topper in the Irish jockeys’ championship.
“He was very, very green the day I rode him. I know a lot of people were saying I should have hit him, but that’s genuinely the last thing I think I should have done. He was raw and green and learned a lot from that,” O’Brien said.
He added: “He’s progressed with every run and is a different horse now. He has loads of natural pace. I think he’ll take a bit of beating in the Coventry.”
Exciting juvenile Sergei Prokofiev strides out well to boost his Royal Ascot claims
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Despite his mount having an SP of 33-1, O’Brien almost stole the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Could It Be Love, who traded at a low of 2.22 on the in-running exchanges when remaining a couple of lengths clear passing the two-furlong pole.
She could be set to drop in trip for the Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs and that trip could prove her optimum, according to O’Brien.
“They let me go a nice, even pace in the Guineas and I thought I might have stolen it at one stage. She ran a lovely race there and I would say seven furlongs at Ascot in the Jersey would be perfect for her, although nothing is set in stone yet.
The young rider also issued an upbeat bulletin on Coronation Stakes hope Clemmie.
“She was just about ready to start back in the Guineas and should come on a lot for that. Seamie [Heffernan] rides her at home and he seems very happy with her. She’s progressing nicely,” O’Brien added.
fonte : RacingPost
| GOFFS : Paul Nicholls Secures €335,000 Record Top Lot At Goffs Land Rover |
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History was made during today’s opening session at Goffs Land Rover Sale as a magnificent son of Flemensfirth, consigned by Ballincurrig House Stud on behalf of Patrick McCann (Lot 226), sold for €335,000 and became the most expensive horse ever sold at the Land Rover Sale. It was also the highest price at any store sale since 2011. The gelding is out of a half-sister to the Paul Nicholls-trained eight time Grade 1 winner Master Minded, and it was Nicholls who was the successful bidder on behalf of owners Paul Barber and Paul Vogt.
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| Watch the €325,000 record breaking sale of Lot 226. |
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| Patrick McCann, vendor of the Ballincurrig House Stud-consigned top lot, spoke to Kevin O’Ryan following the sale. |
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The Land Rover Sale’s previous record price of €215,000 was also broken on two other occasions today. Oak Tree Farm’s Saddler Maker gelding (Lot 81) sold to Henry De Bromhead for €235,000, while Yellowford Farm were richly rewarded with their Camelot brother to Hurricane Fly (Lot 36), one of the finest pedigrees in the catalogue, who was bought by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer for €230,000. An own brother to Grade 2 winner Constantine Bay by Kayf Tara, Lot 99, was another to breach the €200,000 mark when knocked down to Aiden Murphy and Olly Murphy for €210,000.
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Hear what vendor Norman Williamson and buyer Henry De Bromhead liked about Lot 81, the Saddler Maker who sold for €235,000
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A delighted Paul Motherway of Yellowford Farm talks to Kevin O’Ryan after their brother to Hurricane Fly, Lot 36, sold to Anthony Bromley for €230,000
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The Land Rover is a happy hunting ground for Nicky Henderson, having sourced Altior here. He will train the brother to Hurricane Fly, Lot 36.
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Reflecting on the opening session of the Land Rover, Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:
“Extraordinary. That is the only way to sum up a truly stunning day’s trade for Part 1 of the Goffs Land Rover Sale when the record price for the sale was broken on three separate occasions.
The amazing top price of €325,000 for the beautiful son of Flemensfirth marks a huge achievement for this sale as it represents the highest price for a store at any sale since 2011. That three other lots also broke the €200,000 barrier was remarkable and demonstrated the strength and depth of the market especially as they were knocked down to four different buyers.
Coming into the sale we were quietly hopeful of a strong trade as the Land Rover proved to be the most successful store sale at the Cheltenham Festival for the fifth consecutive year and our superb inspection team were adamant that our vendors had supported us with unprecedented quality. Indeed, several noted judges commented that this was easily the best Land Rover catalogue ever, both on paper and as individuals, sentiments that were clearly vindicated as the day progressed.
As ever we are totally indebted to our wonderful vendors without whom we are nothing as they have delivered this wonderful collection of three year olds. Their horses have allowed the sale to progress again which is even more noteworthy following 2017 which itself was a record breaker with the average and median rising by a quarter and a third respectively. That makes today’s advances all the more remarkable with the results driven by the 73 lots to make €50,000 or over versus 53 last year, the 14 six figure prices, five more than 2017 and topped by the four over €200,000.
For now we look forward to tomorrow’s sale as we believe the quality of our Part 2 sale should also be very evident”.
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Henry Beeby and Kevin O’Ryan discuss the highlights of a remarkable first day
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Comparative Figures
Part 1
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Offered |
Sold |
Turnover (€) |
Average (€) |
Median (€) |
| 2017 |
214 |
198 (93%) |
8,592,000 |
43,394 (+27%) |
38,000 (+36%) |
| 2018 |
257 |
216 (84%) |
10,452,000 (+21%) |
48,389 (+12%) |
38,000 |
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BETFLAG, DOMENICA 17 giugno SI CORRE IL PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES
A Chantilly si concorre per un montepremi di un milione di euro
Prova sempre molto attesa al pari del Jockey Club, è il Prix de Diane Longines, Gruppo 1 per femmine di 3 anni, con un montepremi di un milione di euro, sui 2100 metri dalla pista di Chantilly, in programma il 17 giugno.
La corsa in pratica corrisponde alle Oaks francesi, ma è più conosciuta nella sua denominazione di Dea della Caccia, dei Boschi e del Tiro con l’arco. Sono quindici le puledre di 3 anni rimaste iscritte al secondo forfait del 12 giugno a cui si aggiungeranno le iscrizioni supplementari chiuse il 13 giugno. La griglia di partenza definitiva delle probabili al via sarà diramata il 14 giugno, quando verranno assegnate le monte e comunicati gli eventuali annullamenti.
Nelle ultime tre edizioni i fantini italiani hanno avuto ragione degli avversari per due volte: Frankie Dettori con Star Of Seville nel 2015 e Cristian Demuro con La Cressonière nel 2016. Nel 2017 la vittoria è andata a Senga interpretata in sella da Stèphane Pasquier. In base alle partenti comunicate spiccano le chances di Happily, Wild Illusion e di Shahanza.
