YES, DAQMAN CLASSIC RUN HITS EIGHT: Not the win we all expected, but I’ll take it, declared Daqman after the Irish Derby at the Curragh as Auguste Rodin gave him EIGHT Classic winners since the beginning of May.
WON 9-2 AUGUSTE RODIN (Epsom Derby)
WON 7-2 CHALDEAN (Newmarket 2,000 Guineas)
WON 16-5 BLUE ROSE CEN (French Oaks)
WON 3-1 PADDINGTON (Irish 2,000 Guineas)
WON 11-4 SOUL SISTER (Epsom Oaks)
WON 3-5 BLUE ROSE CEN (French 1,000 Guineas)
WON 2-5 TAHIYRA (Irish 1,000 Guineas)
WON 4-11 AUGUSTE RODIN (Irish Derby)
TOMORROW: Fortune Cookies update. LATER IN THE WEEK: Eclipse Stakes ABC guide.
AUGUSTE DESERVES GREAT CREDIT
Auguste Rodin delivered again. But, after three fast-run sprints on good-to-firm ground at the Curragh yesterday, the so-slow Derby was not what we expected.
What we thought would be all over bar a few notes of hyperbole when the fat lady sang turned out a drawn-out drama in which Auguste was the organ-grinder and Adelaide River the monkey on his back who refused to go away.
But look more closely at the result: White Birch, five-lengths third to Auguste Rodin in the Epsom Derby, was yesterday a labouring eighth, beaten more than 18 lengths; Sprewell, fourth, seven lengths behind at Epsom, was the Curragh sixth, just two lengths closer but disappointing that he finished behind placed horses which were 33-1 (2nd), 80-1 (3rd), 66-1 (4th).
In other words, the quality animals saved up to produce a challenge were blown back by the high wind, failing to play off a slow pace. That’s quite normal but quite shocking in the circumstances of a Group 1 given such a big billing.
To his immense credit only Auguste Rodin could lie handy yet still make a winning run while Adelaide River took advantage of the poor pace to keep up the gallop until his lungs burst.
The wording had been etched into history before the champagne corks flew: Aidan O’Brien’s 100th Classic winner in Europe; Ryan Moore’s first Irish Derby. And my own private bottle of Guinness for an eighth Classic this year. I’ll take it.
ESTATE LOOKS REAL
⭕ 5.10 Windsor Fast ground forecast by the Thames tonight and that should suit Estate whose only win to date came on the same ground at Salisbury.
His two runs since at Epsom and Goodwood have both been respectable in better class races and he should be suited by the drop in class and also a small drop in the handicap to boot.
Scallywag Bay got off the mark in a bunch finish at Lingfield (AW) last time out but it’s debatable whether she can go back to back now back on the turf and off a 3lb higher mark.
A bigger danger may come from Unlimited Data who was second over course, distance and grade last month and looks set for a place at least in this company.
TOM TOM KNOWS HIS WAY HOME
⭕ 8.15 Windsor Oh So Audacious heads the Betdaq Betting Exchange market but I’m not sure I want to be a player at cramped odds about the Harry Eustace trained runner whose form looks modest to me in her first two starts for the stable at Brighton and Catterick. Apprentice Kaiya Fraser has already proven talented but I’ll give the partnership a swerve.
Galileo Glass has struggled with form since his two wins in 2021 and don’t get drawn in by his second at Lingfield last time out – he was beaten 12 lengths in a race that was no better than this.
It won’t take much winning and Thomas Equinas can build on a promising fast ground fourth at Yarmouth last time out – just his third start on turf and he remains progressive unlike most of his rivals.
THE LIKELY LAD
⭕ 9.00 Musselburgh Finbar’s Lad can see off a 4lb penalty to land the Monday nap.
After a run in a class 4 at York where he looked outclassed and in need of the 278 day break he was dropped a grade to win at Haydock last time out.
A lightly raced sort he could easily be in front of the handicapper in a race full of more exposed types including Yaaser who is deemed the main market rival despite not winning in his last 12 starts and rearing at the start last time out at Redcar when sent off joint favourite. Not for me.
DAQMAN’S BETS
5.10 Windsor (win 10)
BET 4.1pts win ESTATE
8.15 Windsor (win 10)
BET 2.3pts win THOMAS EQUINAS
9.00 Musselburgh (win 10, nap)
BET 4.3pts win FINBARS LAD
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