The deadly duo of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore (Breandán Ó hUallacháin)
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By Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Trainer Aidan O’Brien, jockey Ryan Moore, and the Coolmore partners claimed a four-timer at The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland, on Sunday.
Shackleton (2/5 favourite), named after the Irish-born Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, gave the Ballydoyle team their first winner on the card, when breaking his maiden, at the third time of asking, in the opening race, the Trainor Stone and Tile Irish EBF Maiden.
Sent to the front of the field once they broke from the stalls, Ryan Moore kept the race favourite up to his business, especially in the final furlong when challenged by Deetee (Billy Lee) and Sujet (Chris Hayes).
Discussing his first winner, Shackleton, on the card, Aidan O’Brien disclosed:
“Ryan [Moore, jockey] said he was very green, that it was a very strong headwind and it wasn’t easy out there. He said he was idling and it probably wasn’t the way to ride him ideally. He is a horse that will get a trip and could we could look at the 1m 2f race in Saint-Cloud.”
In the Peter Brandt colours, the winner had two and three-quarter lengths of an advantage over the Natalia Luipini-handled Deetee (7/1) at the wire, with another two and three-quarter lengths further back to the third-place finisher Sujet, from the Dermot Weld yard.
The son of Camelot was bred by Lynch Bages Ltd and had finished runner-up on his two previous starts, to Hill Road at Leopardstown and latterly to Tennessee Stud at Tipperary.
Aftermath (5/6 favourite) brought up a quick double for O’Brien, Moore and the Coolmore partners when taking the next race, the Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz Irish EBF Maiden.
The son of Justify had previously run in Group 2 company at Doncaster, where he had finished third to Bay City Roller. Prior to that he was runner-up on debut, also in England, when beaten by Mukaber at Newbury in August.
The successful handler said of the winner:
“He’s a big horse to look forward to for next year. That was only seven (furlongs) and he’ll have no problem getting a mile or a mile and a quarter even next year. He’s a fine big horse.”
Similar to the Ballydoyle runner in the opening contest, Aftermath was also breaking his maiden at the third time of asking, coming home five and a half lengths ahead of Glenderry (33/1) and Ronan Whelan, with Lady In Paris (18/1) third, a further length and a quarter back, in the hands of Shane Foley.
The treble was completed for connections in the first stakes race of the afternoon, the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes over seven furlongs.
Heavens Gate, a daughter of Churchill that was having her seventh race on the track, battled at the death to hold off the Gavin Cromwell-prepared Fiery Lucy and jockey Gary Carroll by a head, with Barnavara and Shane Foley completing the show by taking third spot, one and a quarter lengths further back.
Commenting on the 28th stakes winner by Coolmore Stud stallion Churchill, O’Brien told the media post-race:
“Ryan [Moore, jockey] thinks that she’ll get a mile riding her patiently. He said she quickened well and waited when she got there. He was very happy with her. She deserved that, she’s after having two very big runs.”
The winner previously took the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas and had finished fourth in Group 2 company at York, England, last month.
The four-timer was completed with the success of The Euphrates in the Friends of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch, a race run over two miles and 170 yards.
The winner was down in class this afternoon, having run in the Group 1 Irish St Leger over one mile and six furlongs at the same track on the second day of the Irish Champions Festival a fortnight ago.
Fourth at 40/1 in that contest behind the Ascot Gold Cup winner, Kyprios, The Euphrates carried just 128 pounds in today’s race and was wearing blinkers for the first time.
Well-placed from the gates, the Ryan Moore-ridden son of Frankel disputed the lead four furlongs from home. The 7/2 favourite and only three-year-old in the race stayed on well for Moore in the final furlong and won by a diminishing half-length. A Piece Of Heaven (22/1) took second, with Sixandahalf (7/1) next best home in third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.
“He was well handicapped, he ended up on a good mark”, a happy Aidan O’Brien said of his second winner of the Irish Cesarewitch in three years, following the victory of Waterville in 2022. His Leger run was unbelievable. He’s an improving horse. I’d say he’s a Cup horse.”
