Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes
Group 1, Curragh 16:15 €300,000 added, 2yo, 7f, Class 1
Sunday 13th September 2015

1 Air Force Blue 10/11F
2 Herald The Dawn 5/2
3 Birchwood 13/2
NR: Air Vice Marshal (USA), My Brother (IRE)
5 ran Distances: 3l, 1¾l, ½l
TIME 1m 29.89s (slow by 6.39s)

Air Force Blue 10/11 Aidan & Joseph O'Brien who have too much toe for Herald The Dawn

Air Force Blue
© Caroline Norris

Air Force Blue gave Aidan O'Brien a 10th triumph in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes with an authoritative display in the seven-furlong Group One for two-year-olds at the Curragh.

O'Brien's other runner Painted Cliffs set the pace from Richard Fahey's Birchwood with Air Force Blue tucked away under Joseph O'Brien.

Birchwood made his bid for glory two furlongs out and was immediately joined by Herald The Dawn, but Air Force Blue (10-11 favourite) cruised up on the outside.

In command a furlong out, the son of War Front skipped clear to win as he liked from Herald The Dawn and give the trainer a quick Group One double following the success of Minding in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Connections were understandably pleased with Air Force Blue, who could be headed for the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 10.

"I'm very happy with him. We took a chance running him on ground that he would have hated. He's a real smooth, fast ground horse," said O'Brien.

"He's very exciting. Joseph said he was running away the whole way and he couldn't even get him back in behind horses."

When asked to compare him to Gleneagles, the trainer said: "He has real pace, too. Gleneagles has that pace - natural pace.

"He'll have one more run if he's going to go again and I'd imagine that would be the Dewhurst."

The winning jockey said: "He's a huge engine, travelled very good throughout the race and down to the furlong-and-a-half mark I was still cantering. I didn't want to get there too soon.

"Dad just said to ride him with a lot of confidence and just to win a half-length if I could, but I had to go as he was going so easy. He has a huge engine.

"I haven't ridden many as good as him. He's very straightforward, travels, relaxes, has a lot of speed and he showed today that he gets seven furlongs well.

"We were a little bit worried if he'd get the seven on the ground, but he didn't disappoint."

Air Force Blue was cut to 4-1 favourite from 8-1 with RaceBets for the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Group 1)
€300,000 added, 2yo only, 7f
5 ran
Going: Good