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Fancy Blue lands Prix de Diane for Donnacha O’Brien

Fancy Blue (13/2) led home an Irish 1-2-3 in the Group 1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, giving Donnacha O’Brien his first Classic, and Ireland a first victory in the race since Séamus McGrath’s Sweet Mimosa 50 years ago.

Twenty-one-year-old Donnacha O’Brien, son of Irish champion flat trainer Aidan, and brother of former Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby-winning trainer, Joseph, had incredibly only three winners to his name before today’s win in France.

His filly, Fancy Blue, had finished an eye-catching runner-up behind his father’s Peaceful (11/4) in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh three weeks ago. With rivalry renewed in France today, the form was turned as Fancy Blue took the win, with Jessica Harrington’s Alpine Star (6/4f), winner of the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, taking second, ahead of Peaceful in third.

With Harrington’s filly making much of the running under Stéphane Pasquier, she was eventually worn down by Fancy Blue in the hands of Pierre-Charles Boudot, as Peaceful made her challenge on the outside for Séamie Heffernan. In a tight finish, a head separated the winner and runner-up, with a further head back to the third.

The winning trainer, speaking at Fairyhouse, said of his maiden Group 1 victory:

“I always knew she was a very good filly and we always thought the step up in trip would suit her. It definitely did. Pierre-Charles is a very good rider and I told him beforehand he should do what he wants. There was no pace early so he went forward on her and sat upsides the leader. It was exactly what I would have liked him to do. She quickened up well and stuck at it.”

French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who tracked the favourite Alpine Star throughout,  said:

“We didn’t go that fast so I took her up to just behind the leaders and it was pretty straightforward. She produced a sustained burst of acceleration and was really brave at the finish. There’s a lot that goes into the kind of run of big wins I’ve enjoyed in the last year, but mostly it’s a case of being lucky to get on these good horses.”

Fancy Blue and winning rider Pierre-Charles Boudot. Credit: @FranceGalop.

Donnacha O’Brien immediately hinted that the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh on 18th July might be the next target for his Classic-winning filly:

“We’ll get her home and see how she is tomorrow. We might have a look at the Irish Oaks at The Curragh.”

Trainer of the runner-up Jessica Harrington was pleased with her filly’s performance, coming just 15 days after her win at Royal Ascot, with the Moone-based handler admitting:

“She’s gone very close and it was a whisker either way. Maybe the ground was a bit too quick for her but that’s life. It’s quite a funny feeling to be disappointed after running second in a Group 1. She ran her heart out. She seems to stay and she did everything right and maybe the ground was probably a bit quick.”

Ghaiyyath defeats Enable in Coral-Eclipse at Sandown

A top-quality field for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown saw Ghaiyyath (9/4) take the spoils for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick at the expense of Enable (1/1f).

Ghaiyyath, who was dropping back in distance after setting a new 12-furlong track record at Newmarket in the rearranged Group 1 Coronation Cup last month, took his customary lead in the race, galloping on remorselessly, and was never headed in the Sandown Park feature to win his second successive Group One.

John Gosden’s star mare, Enable, having her seasonal debut, was two and a quarter lengths back in second, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair, Japan and Magic Wand, filling third and fourth places respectively.

Winning jockey William Buick said of his front-running partner Ghaiyyath:

“He’s got a high cruising speed and he knows how to use it. He’s a horse that you go with what he wants to do. He’s not a horse who wants to be controlled, you’re best sitting against him and letting him use his big stride and then go when he’s ready. He’s a joy to ride and he’s a very good horse. As a five-year-old he’s mature physically and mentally – he’s becoming the finished article.”

Credit: @TheJockeyClub.

Charlie Appleby agreed with Buick about the quality of Ghaiyyath, admitting:

“I felt he gained a lot of respect after the Coronation Cup as a lot of people hadn’t seen him do that. He’d been an emphatic winner in France, Germany and out in Dubai this winter, but for the British public to see his Coronation win I think he gained a lot of fans and support. He’s the finished article now. This was a success this horse is entitled to have based on what we’ve seen in the past. I’m very pleased for him.”

Enable, who had been off the track since her second place in last year’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, a defeat which ended her 12-race winning streak, 10 of the wins having come at Group 1 level, delighted her trainer John Gosden today, despite the defeat:

“I’m delighted with her. She ran a gorgeous race. We know Ghaiyyath – and as I warned everybody, it is a great front-runners’ track, Sandown. (But) she has put in a perfect performance and has come with a lovely run. I’m delighted with the way she came there. She is an older mare now – and it has taken a great deal more to get her to this point – but she has run a beautiful race, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with her.”

The Ryan Moore-ridden Japan was a head behind Enable, while another Ballydoyle inmate, Magic Wand, winner of the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in Australia last November before finishing second in both the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup and Pegasus Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park in the USA, was a length and a half behind her stable companion in fourth.

Video of 25/1 shot Serpentine winning 2020 English Derby

Video of Serpentine and jockey Emmet McNamara pulling off a big upset in the 2020 English Derby at Epsom, as the Curragh maiden winner of seven days ago made all to win Britain’s premier Classic.

The 25-1 shot took an early lead in the 1m 4 furlong Group 1 and didn’t see a rival over the Epsom Downs as the inexperienced son of Galileo gave his trainer Aidan O’Brien an eighth win in the race, making him the winning-most trainer in Epsom Derby history.

O’Brien previously won the race with Galileo (2001), High Chapparal (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings Of Eagles (2017) and last year with Anthony Van Dyck.

The history-making trainer said of Serpentine’s surprise Investec Derby win:

“We are so delighted. We are in a very privileged position to have such unbelievable horses and such unbelievably well-bred horses. We are working with special people. It is a position very few people will ever get into. The horses have such incredible pedigrees, top and bottom. There are so many special people involved and everyone puts their heart and soul into it day in, day out. Everyone loves what they do and we really appreciate every opportunity that we get and how grateful we are to everyone for what they do. It is just very special for us to be part of such a special team of people.”

Other outsiders, Khalifa Star (50/1), who was in second position throughout the race, finished as runner-up, while O’Brien’s maiden, Amhrán na Bhfiann (66/1) finished in third place.

The Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (5/2f), under Kerry jockey Oisín Murphy, was fourth ahead of the Lingfield Derby trial winner, English King (100/30), while the Ryan Moore-ridden Mogul, perceived by many to have been the Ballydoyle number one, came home in sixth place.

The winning rider, 30-year-old Emmet McNamara, having his first ride in the Investec Derby, said of Serpentine’s victory:

“I think I got a little bit of a freebie! I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse having spoken to Aidan during the week. He filled me with confidence and said that he is a horse that is going to stay a mile and six furlongs for you well. He said jump, go your own tempo, from halfway after you give him a breather from the six to the five, you keep building to that winning post, he will keep going. God, he was right!”

McNamara was one of seven first-time jockeys in the race today and becomes the third first-time jockey to win the Investec Derby this century following Mickael Barzalona and Pádraig Beggy, both of whom also won on Cooolmore partners-owned colts, Pour Moi (2011) and Wings Of Eagles (2017) respectively.

Paul Smith, son of one of the Coolmore partners, Derrick Smith, was generous in his praise for the successful rider, saying:

“I am so pleased for Emmet McNamara, he is a big part of the team back at Ballydoyle. He got chinned in the Irish Derby a week or so back, he works so hard for us, no disrespect to the other jockeys, but I am delighted for him.”

Galileo is now the most successful Investec Derby sire of all time with five winners following Serpentine’s win on Saturday. His other scorers were New Approach (2008), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014) & Anthony Van Dyck (2019).

The 241st Investec Derby (Group 1)

4.55pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, 4 July, 2020. 1m 4f 6y. £500,000 Total Prize Fund. 

1 (12) Serpentine (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Emmet McNamara 25/1

2 (14) Khalifa Sat (IRE) (Ahmad Al Shaikh) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Tom Marquand 50/1

3 (5) Amhran Na Bhfiann (IRE) (Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 William Buick 66/1

4 (11) Kameko (USA) (Qatar Racing Limited) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Oisín Murphy 5/2 Fav

5 (1) English King (FR) (Bjorn Nielsen) Ed Walker 3-9-00 Frankie Dettori 100/30

6 (2) Mogul (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Ryan Moore 7/1

7 (6) Russian Emperor (IRE) (Laurie Macri/Sue Magnier et al) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Séamie Heffernan 6/1

8 (8) Vatican City (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Pádraig Beggy 17/2

9 (16) Gold Maze (The Long Wait Partnership) Jessica Harrington IRE 3-9-00 David Egan 150/1

10 (13) Highland Chief (IRE) (Fitri Hay) Paul & Oliver Cole 3-9-00 Ben Curtis 20/1

11 (3) Pyledriver (K & W Bloodstock Limited & Roger Devlin) William Muir 3-9-00 Martin Dwyer 16/1

12 (15) Mohican Heights (IRE) (Sun Bloodstock SARL) David Simcock 3-9-00 Andrea Atzeni 25/1

13 (10) Mythical (FR) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 James Doyle 100/1

14 (7) Max Vega (IRE) (The Pickford Hill Partnership) Ralph Beckett 3-9-00 Harry Bentley 33/1

15 (4) Emissary (Khalid Abdullah) Hugo Palmer 3-9-00 Jim Crowley 40/1

16 (9) Worthily (USA) (George Strawbridge) John Gosden 3-9-00 Martin Harley 40/1

16 ran
Time: 2m 34.43s
Distances: 5½, ½, nose, nk, ¾, 1¼, ½, 2¼, 2¾, ½, ½, ½, nk, 2¼, 75.

Dublin validated to host 4 UEFA Euro 2020 games in June 2021

The FAI has received confirmation from UEFA that Dublin has been validated to host four games at the UEFA EURO 2020 finals in June of next year, after the tournament was postponed for 12 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

UEFA announced following a meeting in Nyon in recent days that all 12 original host cities have reconfirmed their willingness to continue as hosts for next year’s tournament and all 12 venues have been validated.

The four games scheduled for the Aviva Stadium will now be played on June 14, 18, 23 and 29 in 2021. Ireland are set to play two games on home soil if Stephen Kenny’s team come through the Play-Offs. Which looks at best 50/50, anyone that uses all-promo-codes.com might have a small bet on Ireland to qualify at 5/4.

“We are delighted that Dublin’s willingness to remain as a host for the four games at UEFA EURO 2020 has been validated by UEFA’s ExCo,” said Interim FAI CEO Gary Owens.

“This is a huge event for Dublin and for Ireland and the FAI is excited, in conjunction with the Government, Dublin City Council, Aviva Stadium and all of our partners, to welcome the tournament to our shores next year.

“The European Championships is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and we have no doubt that Dublin will be one of the best venues hosting UEFA EURO 2020 games next summer.”

UEFA has confirmed that all existing tickets remain valid for the tournament in 2021. Existing ticket buyers who nevertheless wish to return their ticket(s), will have a final opportunity to request a refund from 18 June to 25 June via euro2020.com/tickets.

Dates for potential future ticket sales including for fans of the four teams that will qualify via the Play-Offs will be confirmed at a later stage.

Aidan O’Brien wins another Epsom Derby

Wexford man Aidan O’Brien made history on Saturday with another win in the Epsom Derby. The Ballydoyle based trainer won with Serpentine who backed up the win in a maiden at Curragh.

Serpentine was a complete outsider, at least by the odds of 25/1. Jockey Emmet McNamara was also looking for his first win in his first Derby. The wins take O’Brien’s record to 8 wins. Khalifa Sat finished second at massive odds of 50/1, while another one of O’Brien’s horses Amhran Na Bhfiann finished in third at odds of 66/1. Ed Walkers English King could only manage 5th, while Ryan Moore was 6th on board another from the Ballydoyle stable, Mogul.

McNamara opted to take a lead from the front and he stretched the lead coming up to the 2f pole. This is probably what won the race as the other horses in the race left it to late to make any kind of impact. In the end Serpentine won by 5 and a half lengths. Speaking after the race McNamara said, “I think I got a little bit of a freebie. I had huge amount of confidence in the horse having spoken to Aidan during the week”.

The Limerick man continued, “He said he was a horse that is going to stay a mile and six well. He said jump, go your own tempo and just from halfway, from the six to the five, give him a breather. He said he’ll keep going and he was right”.

O’Brien was impressed with McNamara. Speaking to Racing Post he said, “Emmet gave him a brilliant ride. He judged the pace well and he knew he was on a horse that would stay every yard of the mile and a half.”We know the road is so long with so many links in the chain,” he said. “You never expect anything, you always do your best, hope it will happen and then accept the result.”

Love is 9 length winner of Investec Oaks

Love completed the 1000 Guineas-Oaks double as the daughter of Galileo ran out a highly impressive nine-length winner  of this afternoon’s Investec Oaks at Epsom, in a new race record time of 2.34.06.

The win gave trainer Aidan O’Brien his eighth victory in the Group 1 contest over a mile and a half, having previously won with Shahtoush (1998), Imagine (2001), Alexandrova (2006), Was (2012), Qualify (2015), Minding (2016) and Forever Together (2018).

The winning handler said of his latest Epsom Oaks winner:

“Before the Guineas we were aware that it was a little bit short for her – we always thought she would get a mile and a quarter well, and obviously she is by Galileo and has a lovely, long, low action. As you see she is very genuine, sticks her head out and really tries very hard, so we were always hoping that the extra distance was going to improve her, and we were absolutely delighted with the result.”

Aidan O’Brien went on to heap special praise on his latest double winner, stating:

“Love is very special. It is very hard to say you would ever have a better filly than her; we saw what she did in the Guineas. I don’t know how far she won that by, three or four lengths, and she doubled it today, and it is only her second run of the year.”

The winning jockey Ryan Moore, winning the Investec Oaks for the third time following Snow Fairy (2010) and Minding (2016), said of 2020 winner Love:

“I couldn’t have been happier with Love, and I don’t think she could have been any more impressive today. You never expect to win an Oaks – I don’t know how far she won by [it was nine lengths], but it felt like a very long way. She was exceptional today, and hopefully she has got plenty to look forward to in the future. She would be a threat to anything.”

The Séamie Heffernan-ridden Ennistymon was nine lengths behind her stable companion, with O’Brien very satisfied with his runner-up:.

“Ennistymon ran a very good race. The Ascot form stood up very well. We felt after Ascot [when second to Frankly Darling] that we would be happy to take the winner on again. It worked out how we thought it might. She was back a bit at Ascot and Frankly Darling got an easier time out in front and that changed today.”

The Investec Oaks (Group 1)

3.40pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, 4 July, 2020. 1m 4f 6y. £250,000 Total Prize Fund.

1 (5) Love (IRE) (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 11/10 Fav

2 (4) Ennistymon (IRE) (Evie Stockwell) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Séamie Heffernan 6/1

3 (3) Frankly Darling (Anthony Oppenheimer) John Gosden 3-9-00 Frankie Dettori 7/4

4 (6) Queen Daenerys (IRE) (H.H. SH Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa) Roger Varian 3-9-00 William Buick 25/1

5 (1) Passion (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Pádraig Beggy 16/1

6 (2) Bharani Star (GER) (Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited) Peter Chapple-Hyam 3-9-00 Oisín Murphy 50/1

7 (8) Gold Wand (IRE) (Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim) Roger Varian 3-9-00 Andrea Atzeni 22/1

8 (7) Tiempo Vuela (A E Oppenheimer and Sophie) John Gosden 3-9-00 Martin Harley 100/1

Time: 2m 34.06s (race record for Investec Oaks, previous best 2m 34.13s set by Enable in 2017)
Distances: 9, ¾, 5, hd, 3, 16, 18.

John Quinn trains his 1,000th career winner

Irish-born trainer John Quinn registered his 1,000th (Flat and Jump) career winner as 6/5 favourite Safe Voyage came home a length and a half clear of Vale Kent in the Listed Investec Surrey Stakes at Epsom.

The seven-year-old Fast Company gelding took the lead in the final half-furlong and won in a time of 1m 19.88s – a new course record over the 7-furlong distance, beating the record of 1m 20.15s set by Crossbow in 1972.

Winning jockey Jason Hart said: “It was a good performance from Safe Voyage. He is a friend to me. He was never really going for any part of that race and only really got going in that last half furlong when we met that rising ground, that is where he really got motoring. I was just delighted that we met that rising ground in time.

“I think with more ease in the ground, you would see a better horse again. Safe Voyage is very consistent. The team at home have done a great job with the horse. Everyone has done a great job of getting him to where we have got him. This is the boss’s 1,000th winner so well done him. It’s nice to have a big winner on Derby Day and that was a good effort.”

Winning owner Ross Harmon said: “That was absolutely fantastic. Every single run last year was excellent, and he ran great at Ascot [when third in 2019 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes]. I am glad he has won today and I told everybody in the world he would win today.

“The boss man at home said he goes on the good ground, but he is even better on soft ground. There was a nice cut and the boss man said he was fine, so it was excellent.

“It was Listed race today – we will go steady away and see if he can do the same as last year.”

2.25pm Investec Surrey Stakes (Listed) 7f

1 Safe Voyage John Quinn 7-9-05 Jason Hart 6/5f

2 Vale Of Kent Mark Johnston 5-9-05 Joe Fanning 5/1

3 Shine So Bright Andrew Balding 4-9-05 Silvestre De Sousa 5/1

6 ran
Winner owned by Ross Harmon
Time: 1m 19.88s
Distances: 1½l, 1½l.

List of sports to play during Covid 19 that include social distancing

Hopefully, very soon we will be allowed play some sports . So we have a list of some of the sports that you should be able to participate during the current pandemic of Covid 19  as long as people keep social distancing.

Tennis – Tennis is obviously a sport that can be played given that people are on the opposite sides of each other. You don’t need a tennis court to play either. It could be simply just across the street from your neighbour. You could play from one foothpath to the other. Obviously you would have to bear in mind cars and that but it could certainly be played in housing estates. Two girls in Italy played Tennis on their rooftops.

Golf – Golf can obviously be played while adhering to social distancing. The main people to keep the social distance would be the caddies and other players. However, it certainly would work. In terms of professional golf it would more difficult to control obviously owing to spectators. But for leisure it is a definite one that could be played.

Croquet – Croquet is a game that could be played in your back garden. For those of you that don’t know what croquet is it is a game that involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through hoops.It is a game that can easily be played in your back garden.

Bowls – Bowls is another game that could be played in your back garden in an adapted way. The objective is to roll biased balls close to a smaller ball called the jack.

Swimming – Swimming can obviously take place. Your local beach would be handy obviously for this. However, most beaches have been closed. However, if they are monitored closely with strict social distancing in place then it would obviously work.

Windsurfing – Windsurfing is another sport that could be done during Covid 19. It is normally only a one person thing so social distancing would be easily adhered to. Windsurfing combines surfing and sailing. Its looks like the perfect sport for after covid, with social distancing not being an issue, have a look at Globo Surf for more info on the best places to surf.

Mountain Biking – Mountain biking is again a single person sport. Of course you can go with your family providing they have their own bikes. Keeping the 2m apart would be fairly easy to do also.

Rowing – Rowing is another water based sport that could be done. Again all you need is your local river and a boat and some oars. It can be done in pairs providing the 2m distance in the boat is adhered to.

Similar water based sports like kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding could also be played as long as social distancing measure are in place.

Top showjumping riders line out in Galway

Olympian Greg Broderick is amongst the riders competing in the first Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix tomorrow (5th July) at Galway Equestrian.

In total 56 combinations have to jump in the Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix League. Similarly, the ISH Studbook Series has also attracted large numbers.

Jumping in the National Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 14.45.

To view the start-list and results see SJI Live https://www.sjilive.ie/event-details/9616836/20200705

Investec Derby Milestones in 2020

Here are some Investec Derby milestones over the past 50 years.

10 years ago – 2010

Workforce became the first colt to be beaten in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York and go on to win the Investec Derby. The son of King’s Best sets a new course record of 2m 31.33s (which still stands) as he came home seven lengths clear. It was third Derby win for owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, a fifth for trainer Michael Stoute and a first for jockey Ryan Moore. Later in the season, Workforce would win Europe’s premier all-aged middle distance race, the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

20 years ago – 2000

Sinndar becomes the first Irish-trained Derby winner for 16 years as he gets the better of Sakhee by a length in a thrilling finish. It is a fourth Derby success for owner H H Aga Khan IV and a first for trainer John Oxx and jockey Johnny Murtagh. Sinndar is unbeaten for the rest of 2000, taking the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Tromphe.

30 years ago – 1990

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s colours are carried to success for the first time as Quest For Fame comes out on top. It is also a first Derby victory for trainer Roger Charlton. Charlton began training in 1990, having taken over from Jeremy Tree. Charlton had saddled Prix du Jockey Club hero Sanglamore just three days’ earlier. It was a third and final Derby win for arguably Ireland’s greatest ever flat jockey, Pat Eddery.

40 years ago – 1980

Trainer Dick Hern and jockey Willie Carson won the 1979 Derby with Troy and followed up a year later in 1980 with Henbit. Henbit is a second Derby hero for owner Etti Plesch, making her the first woman to own two Epsom Derby winners. Plesch was previously successful with Psidium in 1961.

50 years ago – 1970

Nijinsky was the impressive winner for owner Charles Engelhard, trainer Vincent O’Brien (the third of his six Derby wins) and jockey Lester Piggott (the fifth of his record nine Derby victories). The son of Northern Dancer had previously won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and became the 15th colt to win the English Triple Crown as he takes the St Leger at Doncaster in September. Nijinsky goes on to a highly successful career at stud, siring Derby winners Golden Fleece, Shahrastani and Lammtarra.

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