Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes |
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| Listed, Chester 14:35 £100,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 70y, Class 1  |
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1 Mount Kilimanjaro EvsF
2 High Stock 11/4
3 Great David 25/1
7 ran Distances: nk, 2¾l, 3¼l
Time: 2m 12.89s (slow by 4.19s)
Left it late! Mount Kilimanjaro gets up on the line to take the Listed Dee Stakes at @ChesterRaces for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien... pic.twitter.com/2mwcDb9V5B
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 8, 2025
Mount Kilimanjaro powered home late to hand Aidan O’Brien yet another slice of Dee Stakes history in the Boodles Raindance-sponsored renewal.
It’s now an astonishing seven wins from the last eight editions for Ballydoyle’s maestro, who continues to treat this Listed contest like his personal trial ground — though, as ever, Epsom glory still proves elusive from this particular path. That said, bookmakers were quick to trim the son of Siyouni into 20-1 for the Derby, with the question now turning from whether he’ll stay, to where he’ll stay.
With Great David setting off like a greyhound from a wide berth and making the early running at a pace that was anything but pedestrian, Ryan Moore found himself well back in the field — detached, deliberate, and seemingly with it all to do. As they swung for home and High Stock loomed large on the front end, Kilimanjaro still had the thick of the pack to pass.
But this is Moore, and this is Chester — and just as the race looked to be slipping away, the even-money favourite found a seam, a surge, and a stride. Grinding down the deficit with each rhythmic step, he got up late in the shadow of the post to prevail by a neck, drawing praise from connections for both his temperament and timing.
“It was a great ride by Ryan, he was very patient,” said Paul Smith, son of part-owner Derrick. “They go so fast early here, you can get caught out, but Ryan didn’t panic. He waited, let him find his feet, and the horse really quickened. That attitude will stand him in good stead wherever he goes next.”
Smith hinted at Classic targets on the horizon, noting both Epsom and Chantilly as options: “He’s still learning – as we say, you get two races for the price of one here. He’ll come on again.”
Coolmore’s Kevin Buckley was equally effusive: “He’s shown a lovely turn of foot. We’ve got options – France or Epsom – and Aidan’s now broken the record for Dee Stakes wins with 12. Quite remarkable.”
Back at Ballydoyle, O’Brien gave insight into the colt’s interrupted campaign. “We had looked at Dubai earlier in the year, that’s why we ran him at Dundalk,” he explained. “But it all came too fast. He got tired there and we backed off. Today was the first time he’s gone this far on grass, and he’s handled it well.”
As for what’s next?
“France or Epsom, we’ll see. It’s a fluid picture this time of year — and a lot can change quickly.”
Boodles Dee Stakes (Listed)
£100,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 70y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5) Mount Kilimanjaro 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore EvsF
2 (2) nk High Stock 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 11/4
3 (7) 2¾ Great David 3 9-2 James Tate Tom Marquand 25/1
4 (6) 3¼ Calla Lagoon 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 14/1
5 (1) 1½ Mirabeau 3 9-2 Dominic Ffrench Davis Kieran Shoemark 20/1
6 (3) ¾ Hott Shott 3 9-2 Richard Hughes Billy Loughnane 16/1
7 (4) 19 Isambard Brunel 3 9-2 A P O'Brien William Buick 6/1
