Aidan O'Brien is sticking to his original plan with Auguste Rodin, despite his disappointing effort in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.
Winner of both the Derby and the Irish Derby last year, the Deep Impact colt had produced lacklustre efforts in both the 2000 Guineas and King George at Ascot either side of those Classic victories.
He ended his season by winning both the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, but never looked like getting involved on his return to action in Dubai, coming home last of 12 runners.
O’Brien felt the race did not suit and will look to get his campaign back on track in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on 26 May.
"He’s well and we just put a line through the race. It was a tactical affair and we just got caught in the wrong part of it," said O’Brien.
"The good thing about Ryan (Moore) is when things go wrong like that, he accepts it very quickly and the horse doesn’t get a hard race.
"We are looking at going to the Curragh (for the Tattersalls Gold Cup) if everything goes fine."
At Leopardstown today, O'Brien's Battle Cry came from last to first to win the Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" Stakes.
The colt was last seen at Doncaster in October, when he went to post for the Group One Futurity Trophy but was withdrawn at the start having become upset in the stalls.
Prior to that he had chased home his stablemate Mountain Bear at Dundalk and the winner paid him a huge compliment when subsequently second at the Breeders’ Cup.
In what looked a strong field against the likes of Atlantic Coast, the in-form Take Me To Church and his own stable companions Samuel Colt and The Liffey, both once-raced maiden winners, Battle Cry was sent off a 10-1 chance.
He looked to have plenty to do when the field turned into the straight but when Ryan Moore gave the signal, the No Nay Never colt quickened up impressively to win by half a length from Samuel Colt.
"We saw what happened to him in Doncaster last year. He just panicked but never did it before or after," said O’Brien.
"Ryan gave him a very good ride. He’d prefer better ground and looks like he’ll get a mile. It’s tough out there and you have to get home there today.
"He could be a horse for the French or the Irish Guineas."
Dallas Star caused a 50-1 upset in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.
The Amo Racing-owned winner finished nine lengths behind Charlie Appleby's Derby candidate Arabian Crown in a Group Three at Newmarket in the autumn when trained by Dominic French Davis.
Switched to Adrian Murray over the winter, the Cloth Of Stars colt was sent into an early lead under Seamie Heffernan but had to battle back after Deepone struck the front.
Dallas Star handled the testing ground well, regaining the initiative in the straight to gallop home three lengths clear of O’Brien’s The Euphrates, whose stablemate and odds-on favourite Illinois was only third.
"We were on a mission today to see how we were going or where we were going to go next," said Murray.
"He kept finding for him. Twice during the race I thought he was done for and he kept coming back.
"I never thought I’d see the day where we would be competing in the same race as Aidan O’Brien.
"I was so near to packing it in a few years ago and it’s amazing the way things can turn around. The horses are very healthy and that is a big thing.
"He’ll be entered in all the big races now I suppose and we’ll see where we go. I’ll have to chat to Kia (Joorabchian, owner) and Robson (Aguiar, part of the Amo team) and see where they want to go.
"He came to us over the winter."
🏆Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" Stakes 🏆
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) April 7, 2024
🥇 A Lilac Roller
🥈 Kitty Rose
🥉 Buttons@wjlee24786 | @paddytwomey pic.twitter.com/Cd03N1TUzM
A Lilac Rolla maintained her unbeaten record with a gritty display in the Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" Stakes.
Paddy Twomey's filly had won both her starts at two, and she had one piece of standout form in terms of this Group Three.
She had finished in front of O’Brien’s Opera Singer at the Curragh in August, with that filly going on to win the Prix Marcel Boussac by five lengths.
Sent off at 9-2, A Lilac Rolla’s rider Billy Lee was keen not to let Seamie Heffernan get too far clear on Kitty Rose and from a long way out the two had it between themselves.
Both of them stuck to the task gamely but it was A Lilac Rolla who just came out on top by a head, with the pair almost three lengths clear of Buttons in third.
"I think she’s a good filly and I’d hoped she would do something like that," said Twomey.
"I haven’t run her since she won the second time last year as she just grew and I wanted to give her the time. I’m glad I did and she’s trained well all winter.
"I was looking forward to coming here today, although the heavy ground was a concern as her form was on good ground. She’s uncomplicated and she’s tough.
"She had every chance to curl up if she wanted to but she didn’t.
"We’re lucky that we have good horses and good owners. I’m very well supported and appreciative of that."
Edward O'Grady saddled a rare Flat maiden winner when Ecureuil Secret justified market support.
Sent off at 15-2 in a field of 11, the Wootton Bassett colt was up against O’Brien’s 4-9 favourite Autumn Winter in the Flat Is Back At Leopardstown (C&G) Maiden, but had been backed in from some fancy prices.
Settled nicely by Seamie Heffernan, he got a lovely split up against the rail just as Autumn Winter was delivered to go and win the race.
As the market leader found disappointingly little it was Joseph O’Brien’s Thequietman who emerged as the biggest danger.
O’Grady’s €60,000 purchase found plenty inside the final half-furlong, though, and pulled away to win by a length and a quarter.
"He’d been working nicely and very kindly Joseph allowed me do a bit of work with him after racing in Naas recently. The funny thing is himself and the second (Thequietman) worked together and they finished about the same way," said O’Grady.
"Aidan (Ryan, owner) asked me to buy him a horse at the breeze-up sales. I couldn’t get one at Goresbridge as they were too expensive.
"This fellow was in a sale at Deauville in July. He was only five miles up the road from me and I went to see him and loved him. The stallion is on fire and it’s brilliant to have him.
"I thought I was buying a dual-purpose horse as he’s 16.3. He’s the only three-year-old that I have, I have a few two-year-olds I bred.
"It’s very exciting to buy something like that and I’d say that was a fair maiden. He has a great attitude and the dream is still alive."
O’Brien had better luck in the following Ballylinch Stud "Bayside Boy" Fillies Maiden with Wingspan.
Surprisingly weak in the market at 7-2 for a filly by Dubawi out of a Group One winner in Hydrangea, she was unraced at two.
Jim Bolger’s Nativity Square made sure there was no hiding place and it was only the Ballydoyle runner who was able to reel her in, showing a smart turn of foot in the process for Ryan Moore, winning by a length and a half.
"She’s like her mother, lazy and laid-back. Ryan said she found loads, handled the ground and would be very comfortable with a step up in trip," said O’Brien.
"She’ll have no problem going up into an Oaks trial. She’s a baby and should improve plenty."
Chantilly (7-4 favourite) then provided O'Brien and Moore with a third winner on the card – Battle Cry had also won earlier – when making a mockery of a mark of 85 in the 1888 Restaurant Handicap, winning by four and a half lengths.
"We liked him last year, but he never won," said O’Brien.
"Ryan thought he could be a horse for a handicap in Ascot and he should get into one of those three-year-old races now.
"I’d say he definitely wants better ground. He’s a good mover, a long-striding horse."
