The last 11 times Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore have teamed up together at Chester, they have won. That extraordinary record was extended when Jan Brueghel won the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes on Thursday.
Ironically, given their success in the Pattern races at Chester, that run started with a maiden success for Gallantly in 2024. Since then, three straight Dee Stakes wins, to take their winning run in that Listed contest to five in a row in all, a hat-trick of Ormonde Stakes’, and a brace in both the Cheshire Oaks and Chester Vase have elevated O’Brien and Moore to mythically dominant status on the Roodee. Ten of those 11 winners were favourites.
Jan Brueghel was one of those, including one of three odds-on winners this week. The two-time Group 1 winner had missed the second half of last season with pneumonia. He had previously finished fourth in the King George at Ascot after winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
At Epsom, he beat Calandagan, now the highest-rated horse in the world. He demonstrated that top level ability at Chester on Thursday, sometimes racing sluggishly, but finishing powerfully. He beat Mount Atlas by two-and-a-half lengths to extend the O’Brien-Moore pairing’s exceptional run of form at the track.
“Ryan was delighted with him” – Paul Smith
Paul Smith, acting as Ballydoyle’s representative at Chester, was very pleased with the performance of Jan Brueghel. His win arrived just half an hour after Constitution River’s easy success in the Dee Stakes.
“Ryan was delighted with him (Jan Brueghel),” Smith said to the Racing Post. “He’s talented. I loved the way he grabbed the bridle about two out and quickened through the horses. It was good to see him back, and it’ll be the Coronation Cup next.
“Ryan said he was in super form. He had the hiccup but he’s come back fine now and is in good shape.”
In terms of O’Brien and Moore’s record, Smith credits the entire Ballydoyle operation. It is their horses which the trainer and jockey so successfully partner up with on a regular basis. Smith also pointed to a love of Chester as a reason for their continued dominance.
“We love it here. It’s a great learning curve for the horses, it’s a great track to visit and they look after us so well. We love to come back every year.”