Galileo’s Kew Gardens Leads Home O’Brien One-Two-Three In the Vase

[Wandering Eyes]

   Without a winner on day one, Ballydoyle hit back with a vengeance early on Wednesday with Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in firm command of a one-two-three for the stable in the G2 Queen’s Vase. Ninth when aggressively ridden in the G1 Epsom Derby June 2, the 10-3 second favourite was held up towards the back this time by Ryan Moore who needed to get his pick of the stable’s trio right after an uncharacteristically quiet first day. Staying on strongly to collar the exuberant front-runner Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the bay galloped to a 4 1/2-length success from Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ousted Nelson by a neck in the dying strides. “We’ve always thought he’d stay this far and he loves fast ground,” Aidan O’Brien said. “We had been very happy with him since Epsom and Donnacha, who rode him in the Derby, said to maybe take a bit more time on him next time and that would suit. It was Nelson’s first run back for a while, while Seamus’s horse is a big baby who will improve a lot as the year goes on. Kew Garadens could go back for the [G1] Irish Derby [at The Curragh June 30] or have a little rest and be trained for the [G1] St Leger [at Doncaster Sept. 15]. In the autumn, that would be a lovely race for him but it’s a long way off and if he comes out of this as well as he did the Derby he can go anywhere.”

KEW GARDENS (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 9.5-10.5f, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Ity, $527,260), by Desert King (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino
3rd Dam: Sweet Simone (Fr), by Green Dancer
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £113,420. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 9-3-2-1, £181,547. *1/2 to Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $262,616; and Hamlool (Ire) (Red Ransom), SP-Eng.

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