Air Force Blue wins the Dewhurst in great style
By Tom Krish
The freshman colt’s name is Air Force Blue. He was the 4/6 favorite in the Group I Dewhurst Stakes over 1400 metres at Newmarket on Saturday. Air Force Blue, from Aidan O’Brien’s yard, justified the favoritism but did it a manner that made his rivals look pedestrian. I may say that Air Force Blue flew like Air Force One. The American President’s official aircraft is ‘Air Force One.’
Ryan Moore, whose Group I wins this year are reaching unmanageable proportions, was aboard Air Force Blue. Settled in mid-division, Air Force Blue was let go with a little over 200 metres left. The race was over in an instant. The winning margin was three and one quarter lengths. The time for the 1400-metre trip was 1 25.34 seconds. No superlative can adequately describe the performance of the brilliant colt.
Massat took the runner-up berth. Emotionless, the Godolphin runner, tracked Air Force Blue. Jockey William Buick tried to move with Air Force Blue but there was no response. Emotionless was eased up and finished last. A post-race examination revealed a chip in the left fore knee.
Air Force Blue was winning his third Group I race in a row. He is by War Front out of Chatham who is by Maria’s Mon. The bookmakers now make Air Force Blue the 11/10 favorite for the 2000 Guineas in Newmarket next May.
Jockey Ryan Moore spoke. “ It was a brilliant performance. I’m struggling to think of any better two year-olds I’ve ridden and there felt like there was plenty more to come.”
Trainer Aidan O’Brien could not contain his excitement. He said, “we’re delighted. We were very happy yesterday (Friday) because Ryan came in and said of the filly (Minding) he had ridden nothing like her. We were able to say to Ryan, “wait until tomorrow.”
O’Brien summed it up. ‘Without doubt, Air Force Blue is the best two year-old I have trained. He’s something like we haven’t had before.”
Grumeti, a 50/1 outsider, had the last laugh in the 3600-metre Cesarewitch. With Adam Beschizza in the saddle, Grumeti won in a photo over Oriental Fox and Joe Fanning. Oriental Fox was the subject of a massive gamble. From 16/1, Oriental Fox was bet down to 7/1 in a matter of minutes.
Gleneagles, another O’Brien star, won the 2000 Guineas in early May. He also was victorious in the St James’s Palace Stakes. He has not raced since because of soft tracks. Gleneagles has been entered in both the Queen Elizabeth II Mile and the Champion Stakes at Ascot coming Saturday. The Ascot course, according to early predictions, will be mainly ‘good to soft.’ Reports say that Gleneagles may miss Champions Day if the course is not ‘good.’
Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that the Breeders’ Cup Classic ( dirt 2000 metres) is the year-end target for his colt whether he runs at Ascot on Champions Day or not. Gleneagles will make his first appearance in a dirt race and will be up against American Pharoah and Beholder who are the market leaders.
Bullrun’s win in the Pune Derby was well deserved. The China Visit colt had to a great deal to find on Continental and Rigoletto. Continental’s stumble leaves some questions unanswered but the fact remains that Bullrun is a progressive sort and is open to further improvement. Rigoletto, as well as he did, could not match Bullrun’s determination. Is Bullrun the divisional leader? I will have to say yes.
Ryan Moore, after his two Group I wins at Newmarket on Friday and Saturday, went to the Curragh (Ireland) on Sunday. He delivered on Black Sea and Best In The World, both Aidan O’Brien runners.
Silvestre De Sousa had one winner at Goodwood on Sunday. He has a big lead in the jockey’s title race. The title is worth 25,000 (British pounds) to Silvestre and immense prestige. To win the British riding title a year after being sacked by Godolphin, is a big boost to Silvestre’s career. He is one of the nicest guys in the business. He proves wrong the saying, ‘nice guys finish last.’
London is cold and there is a hint of winter. The English season officially ends on Saturday, October 17. Titles will be decided. There is a race for the apprentice rider’s title that may go down to the wire. Jack Garrity and Tom Marquand are well ahead of their pursuers.
English racing continues but grass racing will stop after the Racing Post Trophy meeting in Doncaster in early November. There will be racing on the all weather and jumps racing will take over.
Suraj Narredu has responded to an email I sent. He says that Continental broke a fetlock. “I am sore but luckily nothing serious. I should be alright in a couple of days,” Suraj writes.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author's personal views.)
