Kenya© Photo Healy Racing
It was a case of 'bug, what bug' as normal service was resumed for Aidan O'Brien at the Curragh today with the Champion Trainer completing a four-timer in the Tote Irish Cambridgeshire as Kenya sprang a 20/1 upset to win under jockey Seamie Heffernan.
O'Brien, whose yard was hit with a mid-season virus which has cleared in the past fortnight, had earlier winners with his son Donnacha O'Brien-partnered Sydney Opera House Just Wonderful and Ten Sovereigns and completed his tally with Kenya.
Donnacha O'Brien was himself chasing a five-timer of his own in the race, having also steered his brother Joseph O'Brien's Perfect Tapatino to win an earlier handicap, but opted to ride the other Ballydoyle runner, but subsequently unplaced, Lucius Tiberius behind winner Kenya.
Kenya, a son of Galileo, won last year's Killavullen Stakes but in common with many of his stablemates, was out of sorts this year but was today bouncing back from three beaten starts this term.
O'Brien later commented “he was just back but he had the class as he was a Group 3 winner. He travelled well and saw it out well.
“We ran him over a mile-and-a-quarter earlier in the year and we were going too far with him.
“Seamus was very happy with him and he could go to Leopardstown in about three weeks for a Group 3 race over a mile. He's also in the Boomerang on Champions Weekend.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
