RYAN MOORE’S association with Aidan O’Brien has blossomed at Chester this week as the duo claimed a Group race double on the Roodee yesterday.
For once the powerful Ballydoyle operation has no recognised stable number one rider. So O’Brien has decided to use Moore when trainer Sir Michael Stoute does not require the former champion jockey’s services.
And after opening’s Chester May Festival with the striking success of Epsom-bound filly Wonder Of Wonders in the Cheshire Oaks on Wednesday, they scored again with Await The Dawn and Treasure Beach.
They will also bid for more success this afternoon on the Roodee when the much-hyped, but fragile St Nicholas Abbey bids for glory in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes (2.55pm).
Yesterday Treasure Beach enhanced his own Classic claims with a hard-fought success in the MBNA Chester Vase.
It is 30 years since any horse claimed Derby glory after landing the Vase. And then is wasn’t just any horse but the mighty Shergar.
Although Treasure Beach (7-2) may not be at the top of O’Brien’s pecking order when it comes to next month’s Investec Derby, he could do no more than win his Trial.
Moore was in the slipstream of leader Sadler’s Risk turning for home, and once he broke through a gap he held the challenge of 6-4 favourite Nathaniel to win by a head.
Moore said: “They went a steady pace, although he would have preferred it a bit stronger and he was just looking at the crowd in the last furlong as there was a lot to look at.
“He’ll have to improve to be a Derby horse.”
Treasure Beach finished 11 lengths behind 2,000 Guineas hero Frankel on his last outing in the Royal Lodge at Ascot last season.
Paul Smith, representing the Coolmore owners, said: “I have spoken to Aidan and he was delighted. He stays well, so the two possible options would be the Derby and Royal Ascot.”
With the likes of Seville, Recital and Marksmanship entered in the Derby trials over the next week at Leopardstown and York, O’Brien will no doubt have more realistic candidates than Treasure Beach, who is a best-priced 33-1 with totesport and Sportingbet for the blue riband on June 4.
The Galileo colt does, though, look the type to progress into a St Leger candidate come the end of the season.
Earlier Await The Dawn made a lasting impression when comfortably securing the Betfair Huxley Stakes.
The lightly-raced four-year-old, sent off the 8-11 favourite, looks a progressive horse who could feature in many of the big summer middle-distance Group One contests.
After his stylish four and a half length success over Distant Memories, jockey Moore said: “He did that very well. We went a solid gallop and there was no let-up.
“He travelled very easily and stayed very well. He’s a massive horse and a good mover. Down at the start he felt very powerful.”
Smith added: “We’re delighted and we’ll probably step him up now.
“We’ll look at Royal Ascot and something like the Hardwicke or the Prince of Wales’s.”
Sponsors Coral quote the winner at 8-1 for the Eclipse at Sandown.
Current champion jockey, Warrington’s Paul Hanagan, also claimed a third win of the week at Chester, providing Merseyside-based businessman Dr Marwan Koukash with a victory at his favourite track.
Hanagan, who has scored on Lily’s Angel and Doctor Parkes on Wednesday, brought home Koukash’s Gabrial (5-2jf) for a wide-margin debut victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes.
Trainer Richard Fahey said: “It’s very difficult to work out the two-year-old colts, but he’s quite a nice horse.”
Lexi’s Hero (4-1) also carried the owner’s grey silks in the B&M Retail Handicap and Koukash added: “We try to have a runner in every race and the dream is to one day go through the card.
“We plan for it all year and it’s nice to get a winner, as we had a lot of bad draws on Wednesday.”
CHESTER PREDICTIONS (Day Three): 1.45pm Lucky Numbers, 2.20pm Maqaraat, 2.55pm Harris Tweed, 3.30pm Face The Problem, 4.05pm Heatherbird, 4.40pm Sioux Rising (NAP), 5.10pm Sir Boss.
