Marking your card: O'Brien still eying a magnificent seven
Saturday, 22 June 2024
Dawn Rising won Royal Ascot's last race in 2023 - and is back to defend their title in the familiar JP McManus colours (Racing Post Photos)
It's a big step up and we're going to find out how good he is on Saturday. Johnny Murtagh on Jersey Stakes hope Chicago Craic
It's been a first Royal Ascot without long-time leading man Frankie Dettori but Aidan O'Brien has been making sure normal service continues, writes James Toney.
There have been eight Green Team wins this week for four different trainers, Gerry Keane perhaps providing on the stories of the week as Crystal Black won with his first ever runner.
With seven races remaining, he is three wins clear of nearest rival John and Thady Gosden on the top trainer standing he has dominated 12 times before.
Five wins in four days, taking him to 90 career successes at the meeting, puts O'Brien and his Coolmore connections in a league of their own.
And he's not done it the easy way, Kyprios's win in the Gold Cup was a nerve jangler and the brilliant manner of Fairy Godmother's victory in the Albany Stakes - surely the juvenile performance of the week - further shredded them.
It's eight years since O'Brien claimed a best seven wins at the meeting - and he has live chances to level that number on Saturday.
The well-bred juvenile Bedtime Story is favourite in the Chesham Stakes, a race O'Brien has won on six occasions, while Continuous, River Tiber and Queenstown top the markets in the Hardwicke Stakes, Jersey Stakes and Queen Alexandra Stakes respectively.
"We didn't really set out to try and force any of these two-year-olds into getting to the Chesham, we just let it happen if it happened," said O'Brien, of the Frankel-sired filly, "She put her hand up for the job at Leopardstown and looked very classy."
Of course, Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien is the first information racegoers look for on their cards, though it was another O'Brien, son Donnacha, who won yesterday's big race, the combined age of trainer and jockey Tom Marquand just 51.
He fires long shot Chicago Critic at the Jersey Stakes, a race with plenty of long prices in the places over the years.
"He ran well well at Naas, it's going to be a very strong race and have to be at his best," he told HRI's Fran Berry. "It's a big step up and we're going to find out how good he is on Saturday."
O'Brien's Merchant Navy is the only Irish winner in the last ten years.
Dawn Rising - trained by Joseph O'Brien - won this last year and finished less than six lengths behind Gold Cup winner Kyprios on his preparation run at Leopardstown.
Moore was the jockey 12 months ago but will ride Queenstown for Aidan, another horse with eye-catching form against the Gold Cup hero.
There was some rain overnight but the course was still watered to replace the moisture lost and today's forecast is for overcast conditions.
Chris Stickels, Ascot’s clerk of the course, said: “The track is performing very well. I am very happy with it."
There have been eight Green Team wins this week for four different trainers, Gerry Keane perhaps providing on the stories of the week as Crystal Black won with his first ever runner.
“She’s looking down on us today” 🎀
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) June 21, 2024
A very emotional win for the Wear A Pink Ribbon syndicate as Crystal Black triumphs for Gerry Keane and @ctkjockey 💚
What a story #GreenTeam #RoyalAscot @HRIOwners pic.twitter.com/zHzsz9guuS
O'Brien with live chances to take down his record
Aidan O'Brien has one hand on Royal Ascot's top trainer title and one eye on history.With seven races remaining, he is three wins clear of nearest rival John and Thady Gosden on the top trainer standing he has dominated 12 times before.
Five wins in four days, taking him to 90 career successes at the meeting, puts O'Brien and his Coolmore connections in a league of their own.
And he's not done it the easy way, Kyprios's win in the Gold Cup was a nerve jangler and the brilliant manner of Fairy Godmother's victory in the Albany Stakes - surely the juvenile performance of the week - further shredded them.
It's eight years since O'Brien claimed a best seven wins at the meeting - and he has live chances to level that number on Saturday.
The well-bred juvenile Bedtime Story is favourite in the Chesham Stakes, a race O'Brien has won on six occasions, while Continuous, River Tiber and Queenstown top the markets in the Hardwicke Stakes, Jersey Stakes and Queen Alexandra Stakes respectively.
"We didn't really set out to try and force any of these two-year-olds into getting to the Chesham, we just let it happen if it happened," said O'Brien, of the Frankel-sired filly, "She put her hand up for the job at Leopardstown and looked very classy."
Of course, Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien is the first information racegoers look for on their cards, though it was another O'Brien, son Donnacha, who won yesterday's big race, the combined age of trainer and jockey Tom Marquand just 51.
Murtagh is here for more than the craic
Johnny Murtagh tasted success time after time in the saddle at Royal Ascot - and landed his first win as a trainer when Create Belief won the Sandringham Stakes in 2021.He fires long shot Chicago Critic at the Jersey Stakes, a race with plenty of long prices in the places over the years.
"He ran well well at Naas, it's going to be a very strong race and have to be at his best," he told HRI's Fran Berry. "It's a big step up and we're going to find out how good he is on Saturday."
The final day of #RoyalAscot is here 🎩
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) June 22, 2024
Chicago Critic runs in the Jersey Stakes today for Johnny Murtagh ⬇️#GreenTeam | @Franmberry pic.twitter.com/Fhpn9VfyL9
Irish sprinters on the bench for Jubilee Stakes
Legendary Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien made Royal Ascot's richest sprint race his own with a record five wins but the Green Team is not represented in this year's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.O'Brien's Merchant Navy is the only Irish winner in the last ten years.
McManus in the last ... Dawn Rising seeks defence
The green and gold colours of JP McManus dominate at the Cheltenham Festival but he's had three winners at Royal Ascot and could strike in the 35th and final race of the meeting, the Queen Alexandra Stakes.Dawn Rising - trained by Joseph O'Brien - won this last year and finished less than six lengths behind Gold Cup winner Kyprios on his preparation run at Leopardstown.
Moore was the jockey 12 months ago but will ride Queenstown for Aidan, another horse with eye-catching form against the Gold Cup hero.
Weather cooling but ground remains rattling fast
The advance weather forecast for Royal Ascot was pretty grim but it's turned out to be a red hot week with good to firm ground, perfect conditions for this most pristine of stages.There was some rain overnight but the course was still watered to replace the moisture lost and today's forecast is for overcast conditions.
Chris Stickels, Ascot’s clerk of the course, said: “The track is performing very well. I am very happy with it."