Racing Post Trophy |
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| Group 1, Doncaster 15:25 £215,500 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 28th October 2017 | |
1 Saxon Warrior 13/8F
2 Roaring Lion 8/1
3 The Pentagon 10/1
12 ran Distances: nk, 2½l, ¾l
Time: 1m 40.12s (slow by 4.12s)
Saxon Warrior wins - Aidan O'Brien makes history!
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Saxon Warrior cemented his position as ante-post favourite for next year's Epsom Derby with victory in a thrilling renewal of the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
The son of Japanese great Deep Impact was something of a surprise winner when dominating his rivals on his Curragh debut in late August, but having proved that was no fluke by landing the Beresford Stakes, he was the 13-8 favourite to maintain his unbeaten record in a Group One his trainer had won on seven previous occasions.
With Ryan Moore on his back, Saxon Warrior travelled powerfully for much of the one-mile journey, but looked booked for minor honours when the John Gosden-trained Roaring Lion swept to the front.
However, he veered off a true line when push came to shove, giving Saxon Warrior a chance and he fought back admirably against the far rail to claim a historic victory by a neck.
The winner's stablemate, The Pentagon, was third.
The win gave Aidan O’Brien a new world record for the number of Group and Grade 1 winners trained on the Flat in a calendar year, finally beating the record set by the late American trainer Bobby Frankel in 2003.
“It looked for some weeks like Aidan would create a new world record number of Group 1s in a calendar year and, now that he has, we shouldn’t allow what we thought was inevitable distract from the achievement: this is an incredible, historic feat and one worthy of great celebration,” said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, Brian Kavanagh.
“In posting a tally never before realised in the international world of Flat racing, he has also captured the imagination of the sporting public at large. Knowing his dedication and the talented team of people and horses he has assembled, I would expect Aidan could add even more Group and Grade 1 success to his tally with the number of top level races left to compete for around the world in 2017.”
Having set a new standard of 26 Group and Grade 1 victories, Aidan O’Brien now heads into the autumn and winter with many more opportunities to further add to his remarkable top-level tally. Indeed tomorrow (Sunday) at the French racecourse, Saint-Cloud, he is responsible for four of the seven runners in the Group 1 Criterium De Saint-Cloud and has one runner in the Criterium International.
Racing Post Trophy (Group 1) (Straight Course)
£215,500 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Soft
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (9) | Saxon Warrior (JPN) 13/8f | R L Moore 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 2 | |
| 2nd | (12) | nk | Roaring Lion (USA) 8/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 2 |
| 3rd | (4) | 2½ | The Pentagon (IRE) 10/1 | J A Heffernan 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| 4th | (1) | ¾ | Verbal Dexterity (IRE) 5/2 | K J Manning 9-1 |
J S Bolger | 2 |
| 5th | (10) | 1¾ | Gabr 33/1 | Jim Crowley 9-1 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 2 |
| 6th | (3) | ¾ | Chilean 12/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-1 |
M Meade | 2 |
| 7th | (7) | 2¼ | Loxley (IRE) 25/1 | W Buick 9-1 |
C Appleby | 2 |
| 8th | (11) | 1¾ | Seahenge (USA) 9/1 | D O'Brien 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| 9th | (8) | 8 | Merlin Magic 66/1 | P Mulrennan 9-1 |
D R C Elsworth | 2 |
| 10th | (5) | 3¾ | Alfa McGuire (IRE) 100/1 | G Lee 9-1 |
B Smart | 2 |
| 11th | (2) | 3 | Coat Of Arms (IRE) 66/1 | W M Lordan 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| 12th | (6) | ¾ | Theobald (IRE) 100/1 | R P Whelan 9-1 |
J S Bolger | 2 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2016 Rivet William J Haggas Andrea Atzeni The Starship Partnership 11/4
2015 Marcel Peter Chapple-Hyam Andrea Atzeni Paul Hancock 33/1
2014 Elm Park Andrew Balding Andrea Atzeni Qatar Racing Limited 13/8F
2013 Kingston Hill Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni Paul D Smith 7/2F
