San Antonio (16-5) gave trainer Aidan O'Brien another victory in the Boodles Dee Stakes beating his son Donnacha in the process on the second day of the Boodles Chester May Festival.
The Ballydoyle handler was landing the Dee Stakes for a 10th time, just one behind Barry Hills' record 11. And with success in the Listed contest on the Roodee the three-year-old son of Dubawi may have booked his ticket to a crack at next month's Betfred Derby at Epsom, for which he is a best-priced 25-1 with a number of firms including sponsors Betfred, Skybet, Paddy Power and BetVictor. San Antonio has been lightly raced and won on only his third start at Dundalk in March. And, under Ryan Moore, he landed another victory getting the better of 6-5 favourite Alder, trained by O'Brien's son Donnacha. It was a bit of a messy start to the race, with a few wanting to get to the front, but San Antonio settled into the lead on the inside and when he was still in front on the turn for home, he kicked clear. Favourite Alder, under Gavin Ryan, was in the rear for much of the contest and although he came through to challenge late on he never got to San Antonio, who scored by a length-and-three-quarters. Charlie Appleby's Local Destiny (5-2), under William Buick, was a further two-and-a-quarter-lengths back in third.
O'Brien said: "Donnacha's horse ran a stormer having got dropped back in a messy race. But Ryan had his horse in a better position and was able to control the race. We were always going to ride him forward. He's nice and relaxed and was happy to have horses around him, and he found plenty. Obviously it looks like he's adaptable and will get further. Epsom has to be looked at as well as Ascot and France. The lads will decide."
O'Brien is finalising his Epsom Derby team with this week's trials at Chester, Lingfield and Leopardstown and the Dante Stakes at York next week But Auguste Rodin – a best-priced 6-1 with Coral and William Hill – is still his number one hope despite his disappointing return to action in last Saturday's QIPCO 2,000 Guineas. But San Antonio has at least given himself a chance of joining his stable-mate at Epsom on June 3.
The Ballydoyle maestro added: "We've always thought the world of Auguste Rodin as everything came so easily to him. He's come out of the Guineas well and will go to straight for the Derby. With the Lingfield trial now on the all-weather Bertinelli will go there. The horse we would have run at Lingfield (Gooloogong) might go to Epsom and Continuous heads for the Dante at York."
Winning jockey Moore, landing the Dee Stakes for a fifth time in the last six years, added: “He’s a very likeable colt. It was a messy race early on, I was going forward but the horse on my inside and the horse on my outside were keen. He got into a nice rhythm and when I asked him to quicken he picked up well. He’s a brave horse and kept finding, he’s probably improving and I’d like to think there’s more to come.”
While on runner-up Alder, O'Brien junior said: "The race was a bit of a mess and in ground I didn't think he would like I actually think he ran very well. He quickened up nicely then just flattened out in that ground, but I was very happy with him. We'll take him home and see how he comes out of it and make a plan then. For sure he could go to one of the Derbys either Epsom or the Curragh or something like that, but we'll make a plan at a later stage. You have very little chance from out back when they go that slow, but that's racing and that's Chester."
Hamish (7-4) grabbed back-to-back victories in the tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes, becoming the first dual winner in more than 20 years.
The William Haggas-trained seven-year-old has six career victories including three at this Group Three level but needs soft conditions to be at his best. With conditions to suit on the Roodee Hamish, under Tom Marquand, sat in rear off the pace set by Aidan O'Brien's 11-10 favourite Changingoftheguard. But on the turn for home turn, Changingoftheguard was challenged by Lone Eagle with Hamish travelling well and making inroads into the lead on the outside. On the run for home Hamish came through to lead to score by a length-and-a-quarter from Lone Eagle. Hamish is only the fourth horse to win the Ormonde Stakes twice and the first since St Expedit claimed successive wins in 2001 and 2002.
He holds an entry in next week's Yorkshire Cup and connections will look at a quick turnaround if conditions are suitable. But they have plenty of options next for Hamish including the Hardwicke Stakes at next month's Royal Ascot – again so as long the ground is soft.
Maureen Haggas, assistant to her husband, said: "He was second in the Irish Leger last year and is in at York (Yorkshire Cup) next week. He could run there if there was some cut in the ground and he told us he was ready, as William's father (Brian Haggas, owner) loves York. He had a tendon injury as a four-year-old – who knows what he might have achieved without that? But he's one Andrew Tinkler and I fight to ride (at home), you get such an attachment to a horse like him. He once ran on good to firm at Newbury but he won't be asked to race on anything faster than genuine good ground again. The whole family like a bit of cut in the ground, and all credit to him today as it wasn't run to suit him."
Nymphadora (3-1) brought home a one-two for trainer Andrew Balding in the opener on day two at Chester, the CAA Stellar Handicap. Under Oisin Murphy, the four-year-old – who had been second at his meeting 12 months ago – sat just off the early pace set by Night On Earth. She came through on the outside with Lihou on the turn for home. But Nymphadora sprinted all the way to the line, holding stable-mate King's Lynn (5-2 favourite) – in King Charles III's famous colours by a length with Lihou a further two lengths back in third. Fresh from his QIPCO 2,000 Guineas success with Chaldean at Newmarket trainer Balding landed a one-two on the Roodee.
Anna Lisa Balding, the trainer's wife, said: "The lad who rides Nymphadora said she was in the form of her life, and there's a fresh strip of ground which encouraged us she would handle it. John Warren (King and Queen's racing manager) said Ryan would ride King's Lynn and it was great to have Oisin, who is riding with such confidence. It's good to have him back in the team. It didn't happen for this filly at Bath but we put a line through it and started again. All being well she will go direct to Royal Ascot now."
Surely Not (7-2) came down the outside to win the Deepbridge Capital Handicap. Under Liverpool FC fan William Buick, the Dominic French Davis-trained three-year-old was sat just off the pace set first by Urban Sprawl (13-2), under Scouser and fellow Reds supporter Franny Norton, and then outsider Self Acclaim (28-1. Surely Not made his move after the turn from home in the seven-furlong contest and scored by half-a-length fr0m Hugo Palmer's Self Acclaim with the Charlie Johnston-trained Urban Sprawl a further length-and-a-half back in third.
Trainer Balding and jockey Murphy landed a double on the day as City Streak (9-4 favourite) came through to land the TMT Group Handicap. The consistent four-year-old, who had finished second in 1m2f handicaps at both Chester and Glorious Goodwood and third at Haydock Park last season, had been fourth fourth at Chelmsford City last month on his seasonal return. And under Murphy he sat off the pace and when he got in the clear on the turn for home he powered on to score by a neck from Dark Pine (25-1) with Dashing Roger (25-1) a further half-a-length back in third.
