O'Brien off to slow start with Chenchikova failure
Aidan O’Brien suffered an early reverse in his quest for Classic honours when Vodafone Oaks hopeful Chenchikova was beaten on the opening day of the Irish Flat season at the Curragh.
Winner of her only start as a two-year-old, the daughter of Sadler’s Wells could only finish fourth behind Danehill Music in the Group Three Park Express European Breeders Fund Stakes.
Chenchikova had been second favourite for the Oaks before the mile race but was removed from the betting by VC Bet.
Coral, however, eased her out to 16-1 from 12-1 for the Epsom Classic and promoted her stablemate Alexandrova to 10-1 favourite from 12s, with another O’Brien filly Rumplestiltskin on 14-1.
“We cannot write Chenchikova off completely on the basis of today’s run, but with two other Ballydoyle fillies at the head of our Oaks betting, she must have slipped down the Classic pecking order,” said Coral spokesman David Stevens.
Leading just inside the final furlong under Wayne Lordan, Danehill Music (10-1) went on to score by two lengths from Utterly Heaven with Gemini Gold third.
Winning trainer David Wachman said: “She is a valuable filly after that. She will probably go for one of the Guineas trials now and she does go well on soft ground.
“On that ground (soft to heavy) I wouldn’t mind running her over seven furlongs but even 10 furlongs on better ground would be no bother.”
Lordan, who was completing a 401 double after taking the opener on Drayton (11-4) for Tommy Stack, added: “She had the form on soft ground and did it well at the end.
“She won here at the end of last season on heavy ground so probably handled it better than the rest of them and we knew she would go on it.
“She was second in a Listed race at Leopardstown and we were happy with that but we are even happier now that she has won a Group Three,” he told At The Races.
O’Brien earlier had to settle for second spot with his first runner of the season as Amadeus Mozart chased home Cheddar Island in the Unicorn Homes Maiden.
Kieren Fallon sent the 11-8 favourite to the front early on in the six-furlong contest and was having to drive his mount along at the two-furlong marker.
Despite then opening up a healthy advantage, the pair were warn down entering the final furlong by the Kevin Prendergast-trained winner (9-2), who kept on well for a length and a half success.
Bawaader romped away with the ladbroke.com Irish Lincolnshire in the hands of 5lb apprentice Sean Gorey.
Once Bawaader (12-1), trained by Dermot Weld, hit the front over two furlongs out the issue was never in doubt.
Despite drifting to the far rail in the last half-furlong the four-year-old galloped on strongly to win by eight lengths from Our Jaffa (12-1), with Kalderon (16-1) third and Tolpuddle (14-1) fourth.
Imperial Cup winner Victram, sent off the 7-2 favourite, cut through the pack from the back of the field but had to settle for fifth place.
Said Weld: “The horse was fit and loved the ground. With his light weight we decided to kick on early.
“Bawaader was a fit horse. He had a light weight and Sean gave him a positive ride. The horse is a bit more relaxed this year but the thing is this ground. He was working well, he was fit and forward.
“Hopefully he can now move along and win another handicap and go on to Listed company.”
Weld went on to complete a 194-1 double when Spring Snowdrop (14-1) took the Unicorn Homes Madrid Handicap in the hands of Pat Smullen.
“She’s a game filly. She was fit, forward and handled the ground,” added Weld.
