Geoffrey Chaucer and Joseph O'Brien on their way to victory, with Altruistic back in third© Photo Healy Racing
Geoffrey Chaucer made it two from two as he took the feature race at the Curragh this afternoon, the Group 2 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes, for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien.
The son of Montjeu won his maiden at Leopardstown in July, beating Tarfasha (finished third in the Blenheim Stakes earlier) by a neck, and he was sent off the 4/7 favourite to follow up this afternoon.
Settled in fourth, the bay colt was pushed along two furlongs out, and he responded well to pressure, hitting the front around a furlong from home, keeping on well from there to score by a length and a quarter. Oklahoma City made it a one, two for Aidan O’Brien, as he took second under Seamie Heffernan at 5/1, while Altruistic was three parts of a length back in third under trainer/jockey Johnny Murtagh.
Exogenesis was taken out of the contest this morning after been sold.
Aidan O’Brien said afterwards: "He didn’t learn much in front the last day. We were hoping there would be more pace on today, which there was, and he was still a bit green when hit the front.
"If everything goes to plan he will go to Doncaster for the Racing Post Trophy."
O’Brien went on the talk about the runner-up, saying: "I knew he was crying out to go further and on pedigree there is plenty of stamina on the dam’s side.
"He is in the sales race at Newmarket and it is quite possible he could go there."
Geoffrey Chaucer is now a 16/1 for the Epsom Derby with Paddy Power, Boylesports and Ladbrokes.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
