RACING:THERE WAS no fairytale return for Arazan at the Curragh yesterday but in his place another one-time classic prospect, Steinbeck, indicated he might yet be able to justify the rather lofty Group One expectations invested in him throughout his career.
Ordinarily, for a horse having a first start in two years after two bouts of pneumonia, there would have been encouragement in Arazan’s fourth in the Group Three O’Brien Wines Solonaway Stakes.
But this is the colt who was regarded in John Oxx’s yard as being as good a classic prospect for 2009 as his illustrious stable companion Sea The Stars and judged by those exalted standards it was hard for Arazan to come up with anything that wouldn’t have been regarded as an anti-climax.
Oxx though wasn’t too disappointed and said: “He actually ran a good race and I wasn’t expecting any better. It’s very difficult for them to come back like that after two years. We will reserve judgement on plans and see how he is.”
Aidan O’Brien appeared to have had his faith restored in Steinbeck and immediately nominated Ascot’s QEII, and a clash with some of Europe’s best milers, as a target at the end of this month.
A three-quarter length defeat of Wade Giles, with Across The Rhine third, might not be form to get Canford Cliffs et al quaking in their boots but O’Brien was impressed by Steinbeck yesterday despite the colt pulling hard in the early stages.
“He is coming back to what we thought he would be,” he said. “He was very fresh and for a horse that was so rank he found plenty for pressure. The better the race, the better he’ll be.”
Steinbeck recovered from an underwhelming American raid on Saratoga during the summer with a Listed victory at Killarney last month, but may accompany his illustrious stable companion Rip Van Winkle to the QEII.
It was a welcome boost to the Ballydoyle team after a weekend of Leger frustration at home and at Doncaster, while Zoffany managed only a National Stakes third to Pathfork on Saturday.
“We were a bit disappointed but the soft ground got to him a bit,” said O’Brien who confirmed both Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco are being considered for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
In contrast Eleanora Duse is probably finished for the year after following up her Yorkshire Oaks third with a hard-fought short head defeat of She’s Our Mark in the Group Two Tote Blandford Stakes.
Ryan Moore’s mount gave Michael Stoute a fourth win in the race and Peter Reynolds, spokesman for the Ballymacoll Stud owners, said: “This is our first Group Two of the year. We have no Conduit this time. But it’s great to have a filly like this and hopefully she’ll run again next year.”
As expected the Coolmore syndicate landed the Listed Flame Of Tara Stakes but it was with the 25 to 1 newcomer Chrysanthemum rather than the odds-on favourite Spin who was tailed off last.
The winner’s trainer David Wachman looks to have a high-class prospect after Chrysanthemum was in command for much of the final furlong.
“A Listed was a big ask first time out but we’ve always thought a lot of her and she did it well,” said a Wachman spokesman.
Bewitched weaved through the field to secure the Group Three Renaissance Stakes under Johnny Murtagh and trainer Charles O’Brien hasn’t ruled her out from racing on as a four year old.
Joseph O’Brien secured his 21st winner of the season, six behind the apprentice leader Ben Curtis, when providing rookie trainer David Nagle with his very first success in the opener. Padraig Beggy recorded a double on Ballivor in the mile handicap and Knock Stars in the Nursery.
