TREASURE IRELAND! Aidan O’Brien brought a huge haul back from the States last night, landing both big races in Chicago. Shamrock celebrates defeat of the Yankees with one of his famous big-odds yankees, which has landed four out of four and three out of four in the last three attempts.
One in a million.. twice! Ballydoyle sent out a Grade-1 double in Chicago last night, topped by Cape Blanco’s two-and-a-half length capture of the Arlington Million.
The son of Galileo looked awesome, with Jamie Spencer keeping the mount after beating off the Americans last month in the Man O’War Stakes.
But perhaps the brightest news for racing on these islands was the defeat of the States-side three-year-olds by the Irish Derby winner, Treasure Beach.
It was yet another triumph for the amazing stallion, Galileo, but a great victory for Aidan O’Brien who had seemed to stab in the dark with his Secretariat entries since winning it in 2000. He raised his game this time, moving all in with a Classic winner to do the business for him.
TRAMORE: No offence to Tramore – another treasure beach to some, no doubt – but I’m glad to see the back of it, after a wretched week of spending my Galway gains.
So there are two ironies in the opener (2.25): Haventabobphil represents my Tramore week (though I’ve no idea who Phil is) and Final Flashback got yer man Flynn off the mark last night, just when I’d given up on him after supporting his runners for the first three days!
Nivek’s Dream (2.55) is improving, judged on his beating Charger a second time, despite revised terms. His problem here is Pozyc, who won on the Flat at Galway), but I cannot see how Pozyc should be so short and Nivek’s Dream 7.2 on Betdaq; perhaps there’s that Willie Mullins name weighting the market.
In any event, Mullins can land a double with Rockyaboya (3.25) and Hampshire Express (4.25), who ran a very pleasing fourth in the Galway Plate. I shall still have a bit each way on my old friend Trendelenburg.
DUNDALK: English raiders Bajan Tryst – last year’s winner – and Below Zero, have had the luck of the draw for Kevin Ryan and Mark Johnston, but I’m sticking my neck out here.
I’ve taken 11.0 this morning So Stylish to recapture for Ballydoyle the form of her Marble Hill third last season. Aidan O’Brien has a terrific record with animals he drops back from the Pattern to sprints, particularly in handicaps.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: So Stylish (3.35 Dundalk)
NEXT BEST: Hampshire Express (4.25 Tramore)
OUTSIDERS: Trendelenburg (4.25 Tramore), Creekside (5.35 Dundalk)
DAQ YANKEE: Nivek’s Dream (2.55 Tramore), Rockyaboya (3.25 Tramore), So Stylish (3.35 Dundalk) and Hampshire Express (4.25 Tramore)
