O'Brien completes Curragh treble

Australia s trainer Aidan O'Brien completed a treble at the Curragh today, when Giovanni Boldini landed the Listed Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes, thus also providing the Champion Trainer's son Joseph O'Brien with a personal double on the day.

Giovanni Boldini was the well supported 8/13 favourite to build on a promising third place finish in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last week and in the end had little difficulty winning, having quickened well in the closing stages to beat Paene Magnus by three parts of a length.

Afterwards O'Brien senior (successful earlier with Fountain Of Youth and Australia, in the Irish Derby) stated “Joseph said he loves the fast ground and you have to hold on to him as he loves cover. When he pulled him out, Joseph thought he'd win four or five lengths but in the end he just won.”

Regarding the colt's runner-up defeat in last November's Breeders Cup, O'Brien added “he did the same thing with Ryan (Moore); he travelled and came to win his race and a normal horse would, but he curled up a bit.

“In Ascot he travelled great too but saw too much daylight but sometimes it takes a long time to work out the way to ride a horse and probably 'cover and wait' is the way to ride him.

“Seven (furlongs) or a mile is his trip and Derek (Smith, part owner) was talking about some races in America for him and talking to Joseph (O'Brien), he said he'd like going around a bend on fast ground. On a straight course it just opens up a bit early for him.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson