A red-letter day for Ralph Beckett, who won the Irish Derby with Westover and helped Frankie Dettori prove a point as he prepares to take a sabbatical from his role as stable jockey to John & Thady Gosden.
The rides that the punters’ darling lost from Clarehaven didn’t win anyway, so that should only add to the satisfaction of Lezoo landing the Empress Fillies’ Stakes. Might some loftier targets at Newmarket races be in her future?
Westover Turns Irish Derby into Procession
Jocking off riders is a hot topic right now. You must feel for Rob Hornby, regular pilot of Westover. Colin Keane, his replacement in the saddle, will have to go some to steer an easier Classic winner after Irish Derby glory at the Curragh provided Beckett with an across horse racing jurisdictions double.
A depleted field and misfiring Aidan O’Brien filly Tuesday not even hitting the frame saw this colt run away with things in the Juddmonte Silks. Sent off joint-favourite by the best betting sites and bookies, Westover was 7lb clear of anything else apart from the Ballydoyle runner. He won by seven lengths, again showing strong stamina in the final furlong to pull clear of the field.
Westover still shapes like a St Leger type to me yet, before going up in trip, could there be a rematch with Desert Crown come the King George, the next of the big Ascot races, in four weeks’ time? This wasn’t a vintage renewal of the Irish Derby but a gift for connections.
Tuesday Went to the Well Once too Often?
It could’ve been a case of one Classic too many – a fourth in 55 days and fifth run of the campaign – for Tuesday. O’Brien and “the lads” had colts entered, including Lingfield winner United Nations, but withdrew them and instead put all their eggs in one supplemented basket.
Just like Bolshoi Ballet in last year’s Epsom Derby, this in hindsight looks a big error from the Ballydoyle and Coolmore bigwig connections, especially when the mob-handed approach has always served so well. Tuesday could benefit from a midsummer break with just less than seven weeks until the Yorkshire Oaks.
There is the Irish Oaks in mid-July before that, but O’Brien knows this has already been a busy campaign for her. The bookies had no problem easing Tuesday out for her potential engagement at York races with unlucky Epsom Oaks second Emily Upjohn now favourite to reverse the form.
Trueshan…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Sportslens.com…