Aidan O’Brien won a fourth straight Irish Derby on Sunday as Benvenuto Cellini gained redemption for his controversial Epsom run. The favourite led home a one-two-three for O’Brien in the Classic at the Curragh. 24 hours earlier, there was a Group 1 breakthrough for Estrange in the Pretty Polly Stakes.
Here is the racing news today, rounded up for the weekend just gone.
Irish Derby weekend: Benvenuto bounces back as Estrange eclipses Oaks winner
Having been controversially ruled a non-runner in the Epsom Derby. Benvenuto Cellini had much to prove in the Irish equivalent. However, he answered every question, striking under Ryan Moore a well-backed favourite. His victory was a fourth in a row in the contest for Aidan O’Brien. He also led home a tricast of Ballydoyle horses as Epsom hero Christmas Day was a gallant runner-up. Pierre Bonnard also left a disappointing Epsom run behind to be a close third. (Sky Sports)
A day beforehand, another Epsom Classic winner was defeated. Unlike Christmas Day, who still emerged with credit, Thundering On disappointed in fourth in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes. The 1m2f contest is an all-age top level race for fillies and mares. However, the Oaks generation did not deliver, with Estrange breaking through at Group 1 level. Trained by David O’Meara in England, the dazzling grey finally won among the highest company. (Thoroughbred Daily News)
Stars Align in Northumberland Plate
The stars aligned for Align The Stars, who won the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. The staying handicap is one of the biggest races run on the all-weather in Britain. A steadily-run race favoured those on the front end, with the giant Align The Stars emerging victorious. Always prominent, he struck for Daniel Muscutt and Charlie Johnston. The trainer praised the win as “a plan a while in coming.” (Sporting Life)
Gethin excites ahead of Eclipse
The Coral-Eclipse is the headline race this week, bringing together the Classic age against their elders. Among the favourites for the 1m2f Group 1 is Gethin, who chased home Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over the Eclipse course and distance last time out. The Wathnan Racing-owned runner has pleased trainer Owen Burrows in the build up to the race. Wathnan’s racing advisor Richard Brown described the colt as “in a great place.” (Racing Post)
Dettori to ride in legends’ race
Frankie Dettori is set for one more ride in the saddle in Great Britain this autumn. The legendary jockey will, fittingly, contest the “Leger Legends” race during Doncaster’s Classic meeting in September. The race is a classified event for charity, with the 55-year-old the latest to be announced among the riding line-up. Among his fellow contestants are Adam Kirby, Megan Nicholls and Tom Scudamore. AP McCoy has ridden the winner of the race in the past. (Racing Post)