CURRAGH REPORT:ALFRED NOBEL is set to clash with the brilliant Royal Ascot winner Canford Cliffs in Deauville's Prix Morny after securing the first Group One prize of the year in Europe for juveniles at the Curragh yesterday.
The 5-4 favourite overhauled his 33-1 stable companion Air Chief Marshal by half a length to win the Camas Park Ashtown House Studs Phoenix Stakes and in the process secure trainer Aidan O’Brien another slice of history.
Paddy Prendergast’s record of nine victories in the race that used to be known as the ‘1500’ was one that many reckoned would be unbeatable. Alfred Nobel however was O’Brien’s tenth winner in the last dozen years.
Both Fasliyev (1999) and Johannesburg (2001) went on to also score in the Morny and the champion trainer looks like targeting a fourth career victory in the Deauville race with Alfred Nobel in four weeks’ time.
“We were very worried about the heavy ground today but he is one of those horses that can change gear. He is very good,” O’Brien said.
Alfred Nobel will need to be as the wide-margin Coventry winner Canford Cliffs is also being trained for Deauville and that horse remains favourite for next year’s 2,000 Guineas with the O’Brien horse rated a 16-1 shot by Ladbrokes.
Johnny Murtagh timed his challenge perfectly yesterday after it briefly looked in the final furlong that O’Brien’s 16-year-old son Joseph had nicked a Group One prize on Air Chief Marshal.
“We thought he was a good horse but then he seemed to lose his form. He is coming back to what we thought he was,” O’Brien Snr explained of the runner-up.
However bookmakers appear to believe another Ballydoyle colt, Steinbeck, is a better prospect than Alfred Nobel in Guineas betting and their trainer reported: “Steinbeck is back after a break but we won’t be rushing him.”
Pat Shanahan finished second last in the big race on board Rock Jock but that was a rare blip on a memorable day for the classic-winning jockey who won the first three races.
Shanahan had ridden only two winners in Ireland this season prior to yesterday but scored a Listed double on Arctic and Girouette for trainer Tracey Collins as well as landing the opening handicap on Tovaria.
The 46-year-old rider appeared most impressed by Arctic who ran out an easy five-length winner of the Grangecon Stud Stakes for his new Australian owner Richard Pegum.
“He’s a very smart horse,” said Collins. “Going to Bellewstown first time was not ideal but I had to give him a prep for this and he learned a lot.”
Girouette thrived on the heavy ground to secure some valuable black type in the Sweet Mimosa Stakes and her trainer reported: “She is beautifully bred and has done her job now.”
English trainer Paul Green warmed up for the Galway festival today with Invincible Force landing the six furlong handicap. Invincible Force was securing a third win at the Curragh including the 2006 Tatersalls Sales Race which was worth €300,000.
