Latest news with #AidanO'Brien-trained
New Paper
01-08-2025
- Climate
- New Paper
Whirl of a day at Goodwood
GOODWOOD Day 3 of one of the most famous UK race meetings was not without its fair share of high drama on and off the track on July 31, quite literally. Thunder and lightning, and torrential rain struck at the third day of the not-so-Glorious Goodwood festival, turning the fillies' feature, the Group 1 Nassau Stakes (1,991m) into a slog through heavy ground. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Whirl still made light of the atrocious conditions and an unorthodox flag start after the barrier stalls were deemed unsafe to use, to land the day's highlight in emphatic fashion. But such gloom at the West Sussex track could have turned even darker if an earlier incident at 10,000 feet had not come to a happy ending. Five jockeys flying down from the north of England missed the meeting after their twin-engined plane had to make an emergency landing. Thankfully, no one was injured. Rowan Scott, P.J. McDonald, Callum Rodriguez, Tom Eaves and Jack Garritty got a huge scare when one of the engines failed halfway through their flight from Bagby in North Yorkshire. Amid the chaos, the five riders' first reaction was to still text their agents they would miss their Goodwood rides. The pilot managed to turn back and make a safe landing at Bagby. Scott, who was at his first time taking such a private flight - a regular mode of transportation for northern-based jockeys needing to travel the 450km distance to Goodwood - was just glad he could live to tell. "We were all a bit shook up. Thank God we're in one piece," he told The Mirror. "The pilot wasn't best pleased with the situation we were in but he was keeping his cool. "Jockeys often fly down from there. I hadn't before and I don't think I'll be rushing to do it again." Back on Earth, with lightning ruling out the traditional stalls start, jockeys were in the highly unusual position of starting a top-level race with a flag after a 10-minute delay for a gap in the weather. It was Ryan Moore on board the $8 favourite Whirl who set out in front, with the Wootton Basset three-year-old filly splashing her way through standing water on the track to make all. Royal Ascot scorer Cercene (Gary Carroll) finished second five lengths back in her wake, with See The Fire (Oisin Murphy) a further one-and-a quarter lengths away in third. "I can't remember a Group 1 race starting without stalls. It was unbelievable," Irish trainer O'Brien told ITV. "Well done to everybody getting it going. She's an amazing filly. Ryan gave her a lovely ride and she handles all types of ground." Moore was also taken aback by the one-off getaway, but the British champion jockey made the most of the curveball, as he does. "The start wasn't ideal," he said. "She's very uncomplicated and has loads of ability. She stays well, can handle quick ground and can handle slow ground." AFP
Irish Examiner
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Scandinavia sees off Illinois for Ballydoyle one-two in Goodwood Cup
Scandinavia got the better of stablemate Illinois in a thrilling finish to the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes, in a race overshadowed by a fatal injury to the veteran Trueshan. The Aidan O'Brien-trained stable companions dominated the betting, so while Scandinavia was discarded by Ryan Moore, Wayne Lordan's mount was still only a 4-1 shot following his victory in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Illinois attempted to make all but Scandinavia drew upsides over a furlong out and the two had it between them, with the concession of 14lb ultimately proving too much for Moore's mount, who went down by three-quarters of a length. French Master stayed on for a never-nearer third. O'Brien immediately signalled the St Leger at Doncaster as the big aim for his winner. "Wayne gave him a lovely ride — in the race at Ascot (Queen's Vase) he was trapped six wide all the way and then at Newmarket Ryan said he felt like a very good horse," he said. "Illinois went out there in front and looked to have the race won, but then the other horse got him. "We went to the Gold Cup (with Illinois) without a preparation and I know we haven't seen the best of him. "Scandinavia is a typical Justify, he just won't lie down, he puts his head down and won't be beaten. "Lambourn didn't go to the King George as we had one eye on York for him. It's all out in the open and this horse is ready made for the Leger, which is where he will go." Alan King's hugely popular Trueshan, winner of the race in 2021, was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle at halfway, with news sadly emerging his injury had proved to be a fatal one.
Irish Examiner
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Composing out to build on maiden success
Two matinee meetings take place on Thursday, the National Hunt variety in Wexford and a good Flat programme in Leopardstown. The nap comes in Dublin, where the Aidan O'Brien-trained Composing can build on her maiden success by taking the Group 3 Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes. Fifth to Balantina on debut, she stepped up considerably by taking a Curragh maiden on her second start, doing so by beating Cape Sounion by three parts of a length. Most impressive in that display was the pace she showed to take command of the race. While she is stepping up in trip, that shouldn't be an issue for the first foal of Epona Plays, who won at Group 2 level and twice at Group 3. She is an exciting prospect and can prove more than a match for her five rivals. Red Autumn is respected as a live danger. Given how much she stepped forward from her debut to her second start, she could yet be anything and cannot be dismissed lightly despite coming from a Bellewstown maiden to a Group race at this venue. Brownstown was a comfortable winner of a maiden over course and distance and can fill the frame. Only four go to post for the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes and it is difficult to look beyond Flushing Meadows, who followed up a debut victory with a runner-up finish in a Group 3. That sets the standard, and he can bounce back to winning ways. North Coast is the danger, though Adrian Murray runs two, the more interesting of which is debutant Prospect Thunder. Market support for the latter would be worth noting. The Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Rated Race looks fiercely competitive, but Floresta is progressive enough to supplement her recent maiden success. Johnny Murtagh's filly caught the eye on her turf debut and duly built on it by winning in Limerick. The extra furlong of this race will eke further improvement, and she can take this at the expense of Happy Pharaoh. The jumps crew is in Wexford, where yesterday's all-chase card is followed by a seven-hurdle and one-bumper card. Yeah, it's probably work-saving and financially prudent but, boy, does it continue a worrying trend of boredom-inducing programmes, and flies in the opposite direction to the mixed cards which would be of such benefit to many of our festivals. Long live Galway, in its current guise. Just a few days more to wait.
RTÉ News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Royal Ascot: Charles Darwin impresses in landing Norfolk Stakes
Charles Darwin enhanced his already lofty reputation with a dominant front-running victory in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. A full-brother to a top-class two-year-old in Blackbeard, the imposing Aidan O'Brien-trained son of No Nay Never finished fourth on his Curragh debut but had since impressed with victories at Navan and Naas. Those who sent him off at odds of 8-13 will have had few concerns, with Charles Darwin soon bowling along in front under Ryan Moore, finding plenty once challenged and going away at the line to readily account for Wise Approach and Sandal's Song.
