O'Briens finish 1-2 in Ireland's Moyglare Stud Stakes
An O’Brien-trained filly won Sunday’s $392,400 Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland, but not as expected.
Joseph O’Brien, son of leading trainer Aidan O’Brien, won the first Group 1 of his career as a trainer when 25-1 Intricately finished a nose in front of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Hydrangea, a 7-1 shot who set the pace.
Intricately was ridden by 18-year-old Donnacha O’Brien, another son of Aidan O’Brien, who has been riding for two years and had his first Group 1 win in the seven-furlong race.
Intricately was the highest-priced winner of three Group 1 races on Sunday’s program at The Curragh. Churchill (4-5) won the $392,400 National Stakes for 2-year-old colts and fillies for Aidan O’Brien. Wicklow Brave (11-1) upset Aidan O’Brien’s Order of St. George (1-7) in the $448,400 Irish St. Leger at 1 3/4 miles.
Joseph O’Brien, who won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf on St. Nicholas Abbey during his riding career, began training earlier this year. O’Brien, 23, has a mixed stable of flat and steeplechase runners.
Intricately, a filly by Fastnet Rock, has won 2 of 4 starts; the Moyglare Stud Stakes was her first stakes win. The victory gives Intricately a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. O’Brien told the press that the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket Racecourse in England on Oct. 7 is an option for Intricately, who races for Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez.
Intricately was always near the pace in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and took the lead in the final sixteenth to win narrowly. The disappointment of the race was Promise To Be True, who finished fifth for Aidan O’Brien. Promise To Be True won her first two starts.
Ardhoomey, a 16-1 outsider, won the $280,300 Flying Five Stakes at five furlongs on turf against 12 rivals. Ardhoomey earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, although it was not immediately known whether the race is a possibility.
Trained by Ger Lyons, Ardhoomey closed from the rear of the field to finish a half-length in front of Washington DC, a 9-2 shot trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Toscanini, the 4-1 favorite, finished 12th.
Ardhoomey, who was ridden by Colin Keane, is a 4-year-old gelding by Dark Angel. The Group 2 Flying Five Stakes was Ardhoomey’s first group stakes win.
Churchill won his fourth consecutive stakes in the National Stakes at seven furlongs. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Churchill finished 4 1/4 lengths in front of Mehmas, the winner of two Group 2 races in England.
Churchill, by Galileo, is the future-book favorite at 7-2 with some bookmakers for the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
Wicklow Brave, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Frankie Dettori, edged Order of St. George by a half-length in the Group 1 Irish St. Leger at 1 3/4 miles, leading throughout.
Wicklow Brave, a 7-year-old gelding by Beat Hollow, is accomplished in top-class hurdle races, notably the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2015. Mullins is Ireland’s leading steeplechase trainer.