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The Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown this afternoon, is often the earliest trial of Derby prospects for AOB and the other main Irish trainers.
There are often one or two horses that can come out of this race and impact/win the Epsom Derby, and the Irish Derby too.
Those that run well here can often go onto the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial prior to a run at Epsom.
Today it was interesting to see that Aidan had cut his entries down to just two declarations, with the early favourite and stable jockey siding with, BOLSHOI BALLET, who had run three decent races last autumn including a heavy ground slog over 1M2F in a French Grade 1, when finishing a close up fifth beaten just over 2 lengths. Official Rating 108 confirms the quality of the French run just 8 days after winning his maiden
(not ideal for just an 8 day break before a trip to France, but such was the compacted 2yo season last year).
His action on his course maiden win over 8F on better ground last October suggested that the ground would suit today.
In a slow run race, he did well to control the pace up front and lengthen into a winning lead a furlong out.
He looked the part there, breeding is Galileo out of an unraced half-sister to a French Oaks second, and his brother, Southern France stayed 12F “standing on his head”, and he was 2nd in the Queens Vase, and 3rd in the St Leger.
Pre-race as high as 33/1 for the Derby, and Post-race 14/1, cut then to 10/1 in general, & as low as 8/1.
(Some bookies had to cut the horse twice, in quick succession, which could be a good sign that enough people were impressed with him to move the odds twice)
Aidan O’Brien said, after the win: “You’d be delighted with him as he only ran on soft ground (last season) and will have learned a lot today. He’ll probably come back here for the Derrinstown if all goes well with him. He’s straightforward and, while you’re never sure, he should get a mile and a half. He goes to the line well.
“High Definition will go for one of the Derby trials. We didn’t want to give him two runs before the Derby, but we thought this horse would be able for two. He’s in full work and we’re very happy with him.”
There are often one or two horses that can come out of this race and impact/win the Epsom Derby, and the Irish Derby too.
Those that run well here can often go onto the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial prior to a run at Epsom.
Today it was interesting to see that Aidan had cut his entries down to just two declarations, with the early favourite and stable jockey siding with, BOLSHOI BALLET, who had run three decent races last autumn including a heavy ground slog over 1M2F in a French Grade 1, when finishing a close up fifth beaten just over 2 lengths. Official Rating 108 confirms the quality of the French run just 8 days after winning his maiden
(not ideal for just an 8 day break before a trip to France, but such was the compacted 2yo season last year).
His action on his course maiden win over 8F on better ground last October suggested that the ground would suit today.
In a slow run race, he did well to control the pace up front and lengthen into a winning lead a furlong out.
He looked the part there, breeding is Galileo out of an unraced half-sister to a French Oaks second, and his brother, Southern France stayed 12F “standing on his head”, and he was 2nd in the Queens Vase, and 3rd in the St Leger.
Pre-race as high as 33/1 for the Derby, and Post-race 14/1, cut then to 10/1 in general, & as low as 8/1.
(Some bookies had to cut the horse twice, in quick succession, which could be a good sign that enough people were impressed with him to move the odds twice)
Aidan O’Brien said, after the win: “You’d be delighted with him as he only ran on soft ground (last season) and will have learned a lot today. He’ll probably come back here for the Derrinstown if all goes well with him. He’s straightforward and, while you’re never sure, he should get a mile and a half. He goes to the line well.
“High Definition will go for one of the Derby trials. We didn’t want to give him two runs before the Derby, but we thought this horse would be able for two. He’s in full work and we’re very happy with him.”
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