An O’Brien family affair at Doncaster

EVEN Aidan O’Brien could not have dared to dream winning with the Racing Post Trophy with Kingsbarns, who was bred by his wife, Annemarie, ridden with aplomb by their son, Joseph, and who did not even feature in the original entries for Flat racing’s final Group One race of the season.

Now this remarkable family, who were all choreographed into Doncaster’s horseshoe-shaped winner’s enclosure, are responsible for next year’s Epsom Derby ante-post favourite – Ladbrokes’ Mike Dillon offered enticing odds of 8-1 before the post-race analysis had even begun.

Kingsbarns still has a lot to 
learn and prove.

His only previous race had been 17 days previously on heavy ground at Navan and he is far from being the finished jockey, as his teenage rider explained to the Yorkshire Post on the day that the 19-year-old was also confirmed as Ireland’s champion for the first time in what has been a fairytale career.

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“He was very relaxed and travelled well,” said O’Brien, who was happy to sit in the slipstream of Mark Johnston’s durable Steeler, who eventually battled to finish third.

“I probably got to the front too soon if I’m honest with you, but I didn’t want to break his rhythm, you know. He quickened up very nicely, that was grand, but then he idled in front. He’s still very green, but his ears were pricked. He’s still on a learning curve. Good ground, soft ground, he wouldn’t have a problem.

“It is obviously up to dad and the owners, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he started off in the 2000 Guineas. He’s similar to Camelot as a two-year-old.”

As Kingsbarns flashed by the furlong pole to consolidate his one-and-three-quarter-length winning margin, with the Richard Hughes-ridden Van Der Neer running on to beat Steeler for second, all three gave the impression that they could progress into significant Classic contenders, who may excel over a distance greater than a mile – the Guineas test.

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Yet, while Steeler was racing for a sixth time, the victor is a very late developer.

Though sired by the great Galileo, Kingsbarns is bred from Beltisaal, a modest £8,000 filly acquired by Annemarie O’Brien’s father, Joe Crowley, who is steeped in Irish racing.

“This is a great day for the whole family. So, so special,” said Annemarie when asked about her family’s unusual hat-trick in the race.

As for the trainer who first won the race with Saratoga Springs in 1997, he took a gamble after initially entering at least 30 
other Ballydoyle horses in the Racing Post before supplementing Kingsbarns when entries closed.

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“We’re obviously delighted. He’s only a baby coming here but he’s got an unbelievable cruising speed.

“He won his maiden on easy ground and we were intent on leaving him off for the season but we gave him one bit of work and after that he was very fresh.

“There was a big exam for this being sat and he passed it with flying colours and all his figures stacked up.

“You never know how they are going to react but that’s how he ended up being here (supplemented). All the boxes were ticked at home – his speed figures, his recovery, his visuals and everything we do at home. He’s very exciting.”

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On a landmark day for Ballydoyle, and also the Coolmore stud, O’Brien also confirmed that last year’s Racing Post winner Camelot – narrowly denied a historic Triple Crown at Doncaster last month – is recovering from colic and will race next season.

On Steeler, Middleham-based Johnston was philosophical before confirming that the two-year-old is likely to run under Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation next year – a blow to Yorkshire racing.

“He’s run a very big race, you can’t argue with that. He was drawn into a battle a furlong-and-a-half out and we might have hung on for second if that hadn’t been the case.

“We can’t have any complaints. It was a fairly run race and a very good race. I would imagine he will join Godolphin so the decisions about next year will be theirs.”

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Steeler’s jockey, Kieren Fallon, received some consolation when Brian Meehan’s Warrior won the Park Hill Hospital Stakes – he could be a 2000 Guineas horse – while Ayr Gold Cup winner Captain Ramius was a notable winner for Phil Makin and Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan.

Jack Dexter, another popular winner on Racing Post day, could return to Doncaster for the season-ending November 10 fixture after another significant triumph for former Grand National-winning jockey Graham Lee, who has made a seamless switch to the Flat.

Back at Aintree where Lee won the 2004 National, For Non Stop was an impressive winner of the Old Roan Chase from top weight Wishfull Thinking and Sue Smith’s Stagecoach Pearl, who ran a blinder to be third for the Bingley trainer.

It was a sweet win for jockey Noel Fehily – as he has only just returned to the saddle after breaking his leg in this year’s National.

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