Southern Cape winning at Gowran© Photo Healy Racing
Donnacha O'Brien sent out consecutive winners in his new career as a trainer today as last year's Champion Jockey tacked on a Gowran maiden win with Southern Cape to Sunday's famous Prix de Diane success with Fancy Blue.
Ireland's previous winner of the French Oaks (officially the Prix de Diane) was with the Seamus McGrath trained Sweet Mimosa in 1970 and thus 21 year old rookie handler O'Brien has already beaten his father Aidan O'Brien to a first win in that French Classic.
Today Donnacha O'Brien reported Fancy Blue to have taken her Classic win well, saying “Fancy Blue has come out of her race well. We’re still not sure where she will go next but the Nassau at Goodwood is a strong possibility at the minute.”
Speaking at Gowran, O'Brien had minutes earlier seen his Southern Cape, under Wayne Lordan, win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden which was his fifth success as a trainer.
Southern Cape, a son of Galileo and juvenile speedster Tiggy Wiggy, made all when justifying 1/4 favouritism in his half length win over promising newcomer Fourhometwo
O'Brien said “he’s done it nicely and I suppose he was entitled to win. Wayne said he was a bit green in front so it would probably suit to get a lead on him.
“He’s a smart horse and I’d say he will stay further. We could look at something like the Tyros Stakes. He looked there like he needed every yard of the seven so we might even look at a mile.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
