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Ballydoyle Dominates Irish Derby As O'Brien Saddles First Three Home 27/06/11

Carlton House punters cannot say they were not warned about the perils of backing against Aidan O’Brien and his Ballydoyle contingent in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday. After all, the Irish trainer has saddled the last five winners of the race and was represented by four of the eight runners in the race.

Treasure Beach
© Racehorse Photos

Treasure Beach

Sent off as the 5/4 favourite, Carlton House could never get within reach of even delivering a blow. The Queen’s horse had to settle for fourth place behind the 7/2 winner Treasure Beach and two of the other three Ballydoyle runners, Seville and Memphis Tennessee. The winner of course had beaten Carlton House in the Epsom Derby, when the two finished second and third respectively behind Pour Moi, the form of which has clearly been franked.

This year's renewal of the Irish Derby followed a very similar trend to those in recent years, with a Ballydoyle horse setting the pace. As it was at Epsom, the pace was set by Memphis Tennessee, with the trainer’s son, Joseph on board. A brisk pace was set, with Seville tucking in just behind, while Treasure Beach placed himself at the head of affairs of the chasing group. Carlton House meanwhile and fellow English Raider, Native Khan, were happy to sit out the back.

As was the case at Epsom, Memphis Tennessee was still there as they approached the final half mile before Treasure Beach, ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, cut his way through the field to join his stable mates, while Carlton House also began a move towards the outside. It was Seville who was the first to collar Memphis Tennessee and he looked the likely winner a furlong out but Treasure Beach produced a terrific burst of speed to go past the pair, winning in the end by ¾ length. Carlton House had to settle for fourth.

It was the fourth time that O’Brien had saddled a one-two-three in the race, his other clean sweeps came in 2002, 2007 and last year.

As for Sir Michael Stoute, the trainer of Carlton House, it was another Irish Derby disappointment. It is a race he has never won but had believed that his charge would deliver this time, however, he clearly was not good enough and the plan now is to return him to ten furlongs, with the International Stakes at the York Ebor the likely next target.

As far as Treasure Beach is concerned, the options after this win get bigger, he will surely go on to run in the Arc de Triomphe. O’Brien has hinted however that in the shorter term he may take him to France next in preference to the more obvious King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot a race where the opposition might just be a little too hot and for which he will target with St Nicholas Abbey. O’Brien is also considering exactly the same options for Seville, but would only commit himself to confirming that Memphis Tennessee will next go for the St Leger in September.

The Irish Derby victory was O’Brien’s second big Group One success of the weekend after his Misty For Me defied the odds and put away hot favourite Midday in the Pretty Polly Stakes by six lengths. It was a huge shock to see a filly, who had performed poorly in the Oaks come back to form and defeat a five time Group One winner of the calibre of Midday with such consummate ease, particularly as it was her first win over a mile.

There were no complaints about the result by Sir Henry Cecil, trainer of Midday; he believed that she was beaten by a better filly on the day. Despite what Cecil said there were many pundits who believed that the race had come too early for her after her huge battle with St Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup at Epsom three weeks earlier.

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