The Derby Of Truth

[Wandering Eyes]

Ballydoyle’s second empire really began to become reality as Desert King (Ire) strode to a Classic double in the 1997 G1 Irish Derby and 22 years on the chronicle of triumph in this Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Curragh Classic for the Co. Tipperary realm that Aidan revived is nothing short of remarkable. Another 11 victories have followed that of Michael Tabor’s trailblazer, with five of them leading home a 1-2-3 for the yard since 2002. The score of G1 Epsom Derby heroes running in this for the stable reads four wins and two failures, with the former category containing Galileo (Ire), High Chaparral (Ire), Camelot (GB) and Australia (GB) and Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) unable to complete the double–although the latter’s eclipse was probably due to an injury sustained in the race. Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) caused a minor surprise in the June 1 blue riband, but he has Ryan Moore in the saddle this time and full confidence behind him. Even in the Derby, there were brief but noticeable spells when Anthony Van Dyck, who was introduced in the seven-furlong maiden at this meeting a year ago, was needing cajoling by Seamus Heffernan but that on-and-off style of racing had characterised some of his prior efforts. At Killarney and in Leopardstown’s G3 Tyros S. last July, he took time to build before powering clear and in hindsight he was always being asked a demanding question over trips short of his optimum. An unusual Derby winner for this stable in that he was highly-tried at two and contested the major seven-furlong features, he is an honest and resolute galloper and a stayer with speed, so ticks all the boxes back on a track that will play to his strengths.

Equally, stablemate Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is made for this track, which surprisingly he has yet to race at. Relishing soft ground when taking the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown Apr. 6, he was just a half-length away from Anthony Van Dyck when fourth at Epsom and it is not inconceivable that he has at least that margin in the locker. Dylan Thomas (Ire), Soldier of Fortune (Ire), Frozen Fire (Ire), Fame and Glory (Ire), Treasure Beach (GB) and Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) all missed the mark by differing margins in Surrey before making the leap forward here.

“Everything seems fine with Anthony–everything has gone well since Epsom,” O’Brien said. “All the horses seem to have come out of it well. Epsom wouldn’t be as tough a mile and a half as the Curragh, but you still have to get it. The Curragh doesn’t have the ups and downs of Epsom–it’s very fair, probably the fairest mile and a half in the world, I would say–and the surface is unbelievable. The Curragh is more open and fair and Epsom can be more tactical and can be tough.”

“Only two horses have run from the race and we’ve seen what’s happened–they’ve both won, so I’d say it was a very good Derby,” O’Brien continued. “Epsom is the first time all the three-year-olds come together and it’s a very tough track, but when you get to the Curragh there are usually no excuses. There is no race in Ireland like the Irish Derby.”

It would be a shock if any other outside influence can deny Ballydoyle other than Shadwell’s Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and much has been made of the import of his presence on behalf of his 87-year-old trainer Kevin Prendergast. Sentiment aside, the homebred warrants maximum respect having beaten Broome convincingly in the G2 Golden Fleece S. at Leopardstown in September and denied all of the Ballydoyle runners bar the winner at Epsom. Jockey Chris Hayes felt there were unmitigating circumstances for that defeat and now that he is a proven stayer he may be ridden more for a late surge. It will be up to Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and possibly Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to make this a stern test to try and draw the sting from Madhmoon.

“I’ve sat on him a couple of times since Epsom and as crazy as it sounds, I think he’s improved,” Hayes said of Madhmoon. “He’s still relatively inexperienced and unexposed, so he is open to improvement and hopefully we’ll see that. Winning the Irish Derby will mean a lot and we’ll take it if we can get it.”

Jim Bolger is far from convinced that Guaranteed (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) will be out of place, despite the form of his latest win in the 10-furlong Listed Silver S. here June 7 suggesting he will struggle. “He needs to step forward, but he is stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time. We’ve always thought a bit of the horse and we’re just hoping the step up to a mile and a half will bring out a bit more in him. I loved the way Kevin’s horse [Madhmoon] went to the line at Epsom and I think whatever beats him will win.”

A busy afternoon kicks off with ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) looking for early black-type success in Newmarket’s Listed Randox Health Empress Fillies’ S. before the May 15 G2 Duke of York S. winner Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) bids for quick compensation for a below-par run in Royal Ascot’s G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in the G3 Betfair Exchange Chipchase S. on Newcastle’s Tapeta. “Everything was going so well until last week–it was just one of those things,” owner Saeed Manana’s racing manager Bruce Raymond said. “He came back in good shape. He ate up and the owner was keen to give it a go. On the back of his first two runs this season, you’d like to think he’s the one to beat here even with his penalty.”

Back at The Curragh, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) is another to back up quickly after the Royal meeting in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises International S. Having won a strong renewal of the Listed Wolferton S. 11 days previously, last year’s G2 Sandown Mile winner will need the ground not to dry out too much. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) bids to provide Aidan O’Brien with a 14th edition of the G2 GAIN Railway S. which would match the record of Dr Vincent O’Brien. Hit with a setback since his impressive Apr. 13 Naas debut, Peter Brant’s colour-bearer has Khalid Abdullah’s unbeaten May 24 Listed Marble Hill S. scorer Siskin (First Defence) to contend with.

Siskin’s trainer Ger Lyons wanted to miss Royal Ascot for this stepping stone to the course-and-distance G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and is hoping patience pays off. “He’s very straightforward and he’s in great shape for Saturday,” he said. “I don’t think he’s particularly ground-dependent. Guys who know the sire better than I do tell me the faster the ground the better.”

Chantilly’s evening meeting in the sweltering heat sees Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s May 26 G1 Prix Saint-Alary third Imperial Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) take on Lady Bamford’s June 10 Listed Prix Volterra scorer Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Arqana Prix Chloe, while an hour later Fiona Carmichael’s ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Hurricane Ivor (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) steps out in the G3 Connolly’s Redmills Prix du Bois. Emphatic when the 7 1/2-length winner of a course-and-distance debutantes event May 17, he is another who sidestepped the Royal meeting along with Richard Ravin’s Maven (American Pharoah) who was taken out of the G2 Norfolk S. by Wesley Ward due to the soft ground.

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