Derby deliberations for trainer O’Brien

May 26 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

HENRYTHENAVIGATOR could seek a third Classic with his participation in the Vodafone Derby to be discussed by connections over the next week or so.

On Saturday the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt’s smooth success at the Curragh meant he added the Boylesports-sponsored Irish 2,000 Guineas to his victory in the English equivalent at Newmarket at the start of the month.

The Ballydoyle handler completed the double with the supreme Rock Of Gibraltar in 2002, but while he was kept to a mile and scored seven Group One successes, connections are toying with the idea of stepping Henrythenavigator up to the mile and a half of the Derby on June 7.

The Kingmambo colt, who bettered his Newmarket success over Jim Bolger’s New Approach with a classy length-and-three-quarter success under stable jockey Johnny Murtagh in Ireland on Saturday, is a best-priced 5-1 with Ladbrokes, William Hill, Stan James and BetDirect for Epsom glory.

O’Brien said: “Johnny was so confident and kept saying this fellow won’t come off the bridle during his work.

“The lad who rides him every day said before Newmarket that he is a mile-and-a-quarter horse on the dirt, but some of the other lads said he is very fast and Johnny always thought a mile would be very easy to him.

“All the options are open, but most Kingmambo horses stay well and he is out of a Sadler’s Wells mare.”

The Irish trainer added: “The Derby is very much in the picture, but obviously it is the boss (John Magnier) and Sue (Magnier) who will decide that. He is a definite possible as he is fit and well and handles all of the things.

“He has a devastating turn of foot and that is what makes the good horses special.”

O’Brien made it a Classic double at the Curragh when Halfway To Heaven won the Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas yesterday. Under Seamus Heffernan the 13-2 chance saw off Tuscan Evening by a head. After a stewards enquiry the runner-up was demoted to fourth after causing interference.