12-07-2025
Aidan O'Brien reacts after hot favourite Italy suffers shock defeat at Newmarket
Italy (4-6f) found Charlie Appleby-trained Saba Desert too strong in the bet365 Superlative Stakes. Other winners on the day were More Thunder and 66-1 chance No Half Measures in the feature Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup
Aidan O'Brien was remaining upbeat after a shock defeat for 4-6 favourite Italy in the Group Two bet365 Superlative Stakes.
The hotpot was the shortest price of all runners contesting seven contests on the final day of Newmarket's July Festival.
Italy arrived at the course after winning a maiden event at Leopardstown in good style and was racing away from home for the first time.
And O'Brien felt the 200,000 guineas Wootton Bassett colt came up short on the experience front, as he was passed by Saba Desert who continued a great week for Charlie Appleby and Will Buick.
"We were very happy - he was a bit babyish and green," the Ballydoyle trainer reported. "We thought that might be. So he will go back to the Futurity (Group Two at the Curragh in August) probably now. If he had won today he would have had to go into a Group One next so it's better as he's a baby and he came (here for experience).
"He hasn't been worked up at all (at home) really. We will look forward to him the next day."
Saba Desert (6-1) fly-leapt as he exited the stalls and finished strongly in what turned out to be a messy renewal.
Long-time leader Venetian Lace drifted left when coming off the bridle and carried her across to the winner's stablemate Wild Desert, forcing Italy across too.
The winner came down the stands side and placings remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry was called, when it was found no riders were at fault.
"He's a horse that we've held in high regard from early on," said Appleby.
"The most important part once you hit that rising ground and you are finishing and he showed that class in doing so."
Punters had better luck with More Thunder (6-5f) who scraped home by a nose from Aalto in the bet365 Bunbury Cup at Newmarket.
Pipped in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, he quickened up smartly for Tom Marquand but had to battle hard for the prize late on.
Cheers rang out when the judge confirmed the smart handicapper had put his head down at the right time and trainer William Haggas said: 'I need to watch it again, but for me they didn't go fast at all and he struggled to get momentum. I think he's better going fast."
