Aidan O'Brien gives it a Whirl in York Oaks trial as his ‘Lion' bids to roar in Dante Stakes

Irish Independent

14-05-2025

A market drifter before the off, the daughter of Wootton Bassett was sent off 7/2 in the hands of Ryan Moore, who was positive out of the stalls and never too far away from the pace.
It was Ralph Beckett's Sandown winner Tattycoram that led the field of Classic aspirants into the straight, but Whirl was hot on her tail, with Moore soon allowing his mount to stride on up the long run for home on the Knavesmire.
The further she went, the better Whirl got as she sauntered to a five-and-a-half-length success over Andrew Balding's Serenity Prayer, which made late ground from the back of the field.
Paddy Power trimmed the winner's odds for the Epsom Oaks to 10/1 from 33s, but part-owner Michael Tabor suggested she is far from certain to head for Epsom. 'Ryan said before the race his plan was to bump her out and get a good position and if they caught her, then so be it,' Tabor said.
'I don't think anyone expected that (performance) particularly, but Aidan seems to be able to do that, as we know.
'I don't really think Whirl is an Oaks filly. I think she'd probably get a mile and a half, but over a mile and a quarter, something like the Prix de Diane would be more suitable, but I haven't discussed it with Derrick (Smith) or John (Magnier) or Aidan, so that's just my thinking.'
Moore added: 'She was very comfortable stepping up to that trip today and I thought she was impressive.'
O'Brien, meanwhile, expects his Derby favourite The Lion In Winter to 'improve a tonne' for his eagerly-anticipated return to action in Thursday's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.
The Sea The Stars colt supplemented debut success at the Curragh with a Group Three victory in the Acomb Stakes on the Knavesmire last summer and spent the winter months at the head of ante-post lists for the 2,000 Guineas.
However, O'Brien revealed in March that he was unlikely to be ready to begin his Classic campaign on the Rowley Mile and he instead bids to enhance his Derby credentials at York.
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'We're delighted that it looks like he's going to make it,' said the Ballydoyle handler. 'We weren't sure he would - he's been off a long time. But with the Derby in mind, it was the perfect prep. Obviously, it's a very good Derby trial.
'He's going to improve a tonne from whatever he does. Hopefully, he's going to run well and that we've enough done with him to help him to run well. But I'm looking forward to it and to see what's going to happen.
'It's going to be very interesting. Hopefully, we have him in a good enough place to show what his potential could be.'
Having not yet raced beyond seven furlongs, The Lion In Winter will have his stamina tested over an extended mile and a quarter at York before a planned step up to a mile and a half at Epsom.