Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Henry rules and Big Brown delivers

Johnny Murtagh steered Aidan O’Brien’s Henrythenavigator to victory as he nailed long-time favourite New Approach in the 200th running of the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last Saturday.
The historic running of the colts Classic attracted a high-class field and the hitherto unbeaten New Approach set out to make all from his handy draw in stall two.
Last year’s champion European two-year-old bossed his 14 rivals from the front and the 13-10 market leader soon had plenty at full stretch.
Murtagh
His rider Kevin Manning got to work entering the final furlong of the mile event but Murtagh was giving chase in behind on the Coventry Stakes winner.
The Ballydoyle raider had been ridden with supreme confidence and motored when Murtagh pressed the button to cut through the field and lay it down to New Approach inside the distance.
The 11-1 chance soon led and while Jim Bolger’s flashy chestnut fought back, Henrythenavigator had done enough and held on by a nose, providing O’Brien with his fifth win in the race and Murtagh his second.
“With it being his first run we were a little worried as the horses have been coming on from their first, but he has always been an exceptional horse at home,” said O’Brien.
“Johnny gave him a masterful ride and played him to all of his strengths. We are very lucky to have Johnny, who is so strong and can ride races like that.
Henrythenavigator had failed to trouble the judge on his two starts following Royal Ascot last summer, but both of those runs came on unsuitable ground.
The Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas is likely to be next on the winner’s agenda, with the sponsors going 7-4 about both the first and second home for the May 24 event.
Victory for the Kingmambo colt also cemented O’Brien and Murtagh’s fledgling partnership. The pair only teamed up at the beginning of this season following Kiren Fallon’s fall from grace and have now captured two Group One events in a week following Duke Of Marmalade’s success in the Prix Ganay last weekend.
Murtagh said: “I am loving every minute of it. It is a great job, there are great people down at Ballydoyle and Aidan is a great trainer.
Kentucky Derby
Meanwhile, stateside on Saturday also saw Big Brown produce a dramatic stretch run to win the Kentucky Derby, overcoming a potentially disastrous post position to remain unbeaten in four career starts.
The Florida Derby winner and betting favorite became the first horse to win America’s greatest race from the 20th post since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.
He also became the first horse since 1915 to win the Derby with only three previous races behind him.
Big Brown’s 4,75-length triumph was tempered, however, when the runner-up Eight Belles, the only filly in the race, broke both ankles and had to be euthanized soon after passing the winning post.
Denis of Cork, who entered the Derby with three wins in four starts, finished third in the 2 000m race, three and a half lengths behind Eight Belles.
“What you saw today was what makes him so fantastic,” Big Brown’s trainer Rick Dutrow said. “I can’t wait to get to the Preakness.”

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