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John O'Riordan

John O'Riordan

Another happy ending for O'Brien's Bedtime Story

Thu 25th Jul 2024, 18:27

Bedtime Story and Ryan Moore Bedtime Story and Ryan Moore
© Photo Healy Racing

Impressive Royal Ascot winner Bedtime Story retained her unbeaten record when completing her hat-trick in the Group 3 Jockey Club Of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown.

Sent off a prohibitive 1/16f, the Aidan O'Brien trained filly sat third in the early part of the race, as stablemate Exactly took them along from Varner

As the latter gave way early in the straight, Bedtime Story cruised into second under Ryan Moore, with the leader firmly in her sights.

Pushed along to lead a furlong out, the daughter of Frankel came clear for an easy three-and-a-half length win.

“I'm delighted with her, Ryan was delighted with her and said he didn't open her up,” said O'Brien.

“He said she was very green and in an ideal world he would have preferred the tempo to be quicker. He said he just came there and taught her.

“That's exactly what we came here for, for education. It's a great place to do it.

“He said she's very pacey and classy and sure we saw that. I'd say you couldn't go fast enough for her.

“To hear him saying that he never opened her up is a good sign. That means he was only in third gear.

“It's great to be educating them. Last year we ran Ylang Ylang here, made the running and mentally it did her a little bit of harm for the rest of the year. We had to go back and start again.

“That's why we let the other filly go along in front of her today, to educate her.

“I thought if she was well she'd go for the Debutante at the Curragh on the way to the Moyglare.

“We're teaching her to relax and race.

“The second filly is a lovely filly and she'll step up to a mile whenever we want her.”

Paddy Power left Bedtime Story unchanged at 5/2f for the 1000 Guineas and 8/1f Oaks.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.