Aidan O'Brien's runners dominated proceedings at the Curragh today when the Ballydoyle trainer sent out five of the eight winners. Stable jockey Michael Kinane rode four for his boss but it was Seamus Heffernan who was on board Beckett the 10-1 winner of the feature Aga Khan Studs National Stakes.
Kinane partnered Darwin, the 4-9 favourite, in the Group One contest but the market leader never gave his supporters any hope and came home in sixth place. The change in the going overnight to nearing soft put the emphasis on stamina rather than speed in the seven-furlong contest and Beckett stormed home by three lengths from another O'Brien runner King's County.
"Beckett loved the ground. He relaxed very well for me and then picked up nicely when I said go," said Heffernan. O'Brien added, "It was a good gallop, and Michael Kinane said that Darwin wasn't able to handle the ground."
The victory earned Beckett a 20-1 quote from William Hill for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas.
"Beckett has had a hard race but he is a handy horse that moves well and we should be able to get him ready early next spring," said O'Brien. "King's County is also by Fairy King and we will be looking at the Racing Post Trophy for him."
Darwin was later found to be lame behind when examined by the Turf Club vet. However O'Brien may run the horse again this season and would expect different results on fast ground.
O'Brien, who had earlier saddled Juniper and Chiang Mai to win the first two races, went on to complete a four-timer in the Listed Solonaway Stakes as the favourite Shoal Creek showed his liking for the easier ground. The 5-2 chance made most of the running to fulfil the promise shown when fourth to Giant's Causeway, for whom he acted as pacemaker, in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
"Shoal Creek is going the right way and could go along with Giant's Causeway again to the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket to ensure an even pace," the trainer revealed.
Winner number five came when Black Minnaloushe got the better of Mick Channon's Imperial Dancer by three-quarters of a length in the Aga Khan Studs Blenheim Stakes.
O'Brien, who had runners in six races, missed out on a clean sweep when his Leopard Spot was beaten a short head by Northern Rock in the concluding Slane Maiden.
PA
Filed by Jimmy D'Arcy
