RACING: Colm O'Donoghue stepped out of the big-race shadows to record a shock success on Spartacus at the Curragh yesterday, writes Brian O'Connor
The unconsidered 16 to 1 outsider of the Aidan O'Brien quartet for the Independent Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes, Spartacus made almost all the running to land Europe's first Group One of the year for juveniles.
Behind him was stable companion Marino Marini, with the English raider, Polar Force, third.
But even further back, in last, was the winner's stable companion, and favourite, Hold That Tiger, who finished in respiratory distress.
"He got upset in the gates and missed the start. It's too bad to be true," reported Michael Kinane. "Obviously something is wrong," said O'Brien.
It indicated Hold That Tiger is the latest to succumb to the sickness spreading through Ballydoyle but despite that Spartacus proved himself in the form of his life.
In his short career, O'Donoghue has got used to making the running on O'Brien pacemakers but the 21-year-old apprentice hungrily pounced on his opportunity to land a major race.
Marino Marini joined his stable mate at half-way but Spartacus wouldn't give in. Instead he took O'Donoghue into a decisive lead inside the distance to win well.
Runner-up in the apprentice title last year, none of O'Donoghue's previous 75 career winners even had the label "Group" next to them.
The seven he had clocked up in a season disrupted by injury and suspension didn't come close either but the Buttevant-born rider plugged the gap in style.
"Aidan said he couldn't pick out any of the four and that he would run a good race. But this hasn't sunk in yet," grinned O'Donoghue.
It was a fifth Phoenix Stakes in a row for O'Brien who is hot on the trail of Paddy Prendergast's seven in a row from 1950-'56.
"We've always thought a lot of him since he won at Gowran. But he dropped back to six furlongs on fast ground at Ascot and it was a shock to him," said O'Brien, whose multiple-choice policy again paid off in style.
"With the coughing in the yard, you can never be sure. Antibodies can be there but not show up in the tests and no one can know for definite until the pressure of a race.
"We're just holding tight. The three-year-olds are still on the easy list and we don't know when we'll be able to step up again," he added.
The Phoenix kicked off a Ballydoyle rout of Europe's top two-year-old races last year and next stop could be yesterday's runner-up, Marino Marini, in the Prix Morny.
Kevin Prendergast has been the trainer to most challenge O'Brien's two-year-old fleet and he did it again yesterday with a double that included the all-the way-shocker Rainbows For All in the Debutante Stakes.
However, it was the Danzig newcomer, Walayef, that looked one for the future with a smooth victory in the opener.
"We never put the gun to her head because she came from Dubai in April with a reputation for being a bit hot," said Prendergast, who could aim Walayef at the Moyglare.
Chancellor picked up the Royal Whip for Barry Hills but the English-trained favourite in the Phoenix Sprint, Bahamian Pirate, got run out of it by One Won One.
It was a first Group win for the popular veteran, whose trainer, Joanna Morgan, said: "Never underestimate him. He's the best horse in the country!
"He has now won 12 races and thrives on the game. He will probably run again at Leopardstown next Sunday and there are lots of races for him for the rest of the season," she added. She also praised the strong ride given the horse by Seamus Heffernan.
Having his 71st career start, the eight-year-old One Won One passed his five rivals in the final furlong to get up right on the line and deny the David Nicholls-trained Bahamian Pirate at 9 to 1.
