Aidan O'Brien's all-powerful Ballydoyle yard came away from Leopardstown yesterday with a trio of winners, including a couple of classic possibles, but the trip home no doubt also contained its share of furrowed brows after the eclipse of Shakespeare in the Ballysax Stakes.
Second favourite in some lists for the Epsom Derby, Shakespeare trailed in over 30 lengths behind the winner, Grand Finale, and was taken out of the Derby betting by Paddy Power.
The easy-to-back favourite was described as 'distressed' after a subsequent veterinary examination, and O'Brien said: 'There's clearly something wrong with him. He finished drunk. He'd been working well and we'll just have to take him home and see.'
The Gallinule Stakes is a possible next race for Grand Finale, for Dermot Weld is aiming Media Puzzle at the Derrinstown Trial on May 14th and that race is also the target for yesterday's runner-up, Sinndar, who ran a blinder to be beaten a head while conceding 7lb.
'I wasn't particularly expecting him to win and he's run a cracker. I couldn't be happier with him - except of course if he'd won by six lengths!' said John Oxx of the National Stakes winner.
Apart from that, it was smiles all round for Ballydoyle on the eve of their first British raid of the year, on this week's Craven meeting at Newmarket. Rossini is a possible for Thursday's Craven, while Brahms could go for tomorrow's re-scheduled Greenham Stakes.
'We'll decide finally tomorrow, but if they go, we could send a number of others like Plato and the maiden, Rostropovich, for other races,' said O'Brien, who was clearly thrilled with the winning effort of King Of Kings's sister, Amethyst, in the 1,000 Guineas Trial.
'She's got some of her brother's brilliance, and Michael (Kinane) has told us to go to Newmarket with her. She can quicken, even in that very soft ground, which she hated,' he said. The English firm Hills were clearly impressed and cut Amethyst to 16 to 1 for the 1,000 Guineas.
Bach received a 40 to 1 Epsom Derby quote from Cashmans after making all and holding off Legal Jousting in the 2,000 Guineas Trial, although the sceptics afterwards were quick to point to the presence of the 50 to 1 River Sounds just a length and a half behind in third.
'I have to be happy with him,' declared O'Brien. 'He hates soft ground but had the speed to win and his pedigree is all stamina. We'll bring him back for the Derby Trial,' he said.
O'Brien and Kinane's other winner was the 2 to 7 Tribal Drum in the opener, but that one had to fight to beat off the slowly away Baladeur; while Weld also got the best of things in the concluding maiden with the weak favourite, Muakaad.
Trainer Jim Gorman's sparkling start to the season continued apace when Cobourg Lodge put in another gutsy weight carrying performance to outstay the favourite, Final Exam, in the seven-furlong handicap. 'He gives everything and what we do next depends on what the handicapper hits us with,' said Gorman. There were a number of shock results as the three-day Listowel meeting drew to a close yesterday, notably the victory of Persian Tiger in the featured John J Galvin Handicap Hurdle.
Kieran Gaule gave the 14 to 1 chance a patient ride in the threemile event, and the seven-yearold gelding cruised to the front approaching the last to beat Galbally Star by a very easy four and a half lengths. 'He was crying out for that trip,' explained winning trainer Donie Hassett afterwards.
Ruby Walsh recorded his first win since his memorable Grand National triumph of Papillon when Solar Quest readily landed division one of the Triton Showers Maiden Hurdle. The Andrew Lee-trained mare appreciated the testing ground and three-mile trip to beat Michael Mor by 14 lengths.
Merchants Friend justified strong support (7/4 to 11/10) in division two when driven to the front by Jason Titley before the last to beat Orthez by a workmanlike two lengths. 'He is a lovely chasing type and I will put him away now to go over fences next season,' said winning trainer Tom Taaffe.
