Soldier of Fortune gives O'Brien some good news

Trainer Aidan O'Brien experienced mixed fortunes over the weekend as his Soldier of Fortune landed the Group 2, $173,000 Prix Noailles at Longchamp on Sunday, a day after O'Brien was shut out of both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas Trials at Leopardstown.

A son of Galileo bred by Jim Bolger and owned by Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, Soldier of Fortune had finished second in his previous start, the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on Nov. 12. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, he prevailed in the Noailles by 1 1/2 lengths over Spirit One at odds of 9-5, with the 1.70-1 favorite, Spycrawler, third, three lengths farther back. The time for the 1 5/16 miles on good to soft ground was 2:07.40.

Soldier of Fortune will return to France on May 14 for the 1 5/16-mile Group 2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud, a final prep for the June 3 French Derby at Chantilly.

On Saturday at Leopardstown, the O'Brien-trained Yellowstone and his Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Admiralofthefleet finished unplaced in the Group 3 2000 Guineas Trial behind the 12-1 Creachadoir, a Jim Bolger-trained colt who has been serving a a workmate for 2000 Guineas favorite Teofilo. A son of King's Best, Creachadoir won by 3 1/2 lengths over Confuchias, getting the mile in 1:40.20 on good ground.

Earlier, trainer John Oxx sent out his Group 3 Park Stakes winner Arch Swing to an even-money victory in the Group 3 1000 Guineas Trial. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Arch, Arch Swing outgamed runner-up Four Sins by a short head, with the O'Brien-trained Theann three-quarters of a length farther back in third. The time for the seven furlongs was 1:29.35.

Arch Swing will go next in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6, but Creachadoir will avoid a 2000 Guineas duel with stablemate Teofilo and head for either the Irish 2000 Guineas or the French Derby.