Aussie lands Guineas

Aussie Rules gave trainer Aidan O'Brien a second 2,000 Guineas win in eight days as he claimed the Gainsborough Poule d'Essai des Poulains on a dramatic day at Longchamp yesterday.

The Ballydoyle raider came with a decisive flourish to lift the mile Classic, but the meeting could have been called off as a protest from punters caused huge delays. Around 150 racegoers blocked the walkway between the paddock and the track to demonstrate against the lack of betting on the racing due to a strike by Pari-Mutuel workers.

Racing was suspended while Louis Romanet, director-general of France Galop, a deputation of jockeys and other officials tried to reason with the protesters. A compromise was eventually reached more than two hours after the first race was due to start, with the opening contest going off at 3.35pm rather than the planned 1.15pm.

Aussie Rules remained unflustered by the political drama, though, and Kieren Fallon gave him a brilliant ride to swoop late. O'Brien's charge looked tight for room on the rails but once a gap appeared, he responded gamely to grab the favourite Stormy River in the final 100 yards.

Marcus Andronicus, also trained by O'Brien, kept on well to be second, just ahead of Stormy River. "He settles really well and he's a fantastic ride," said the winning trainer. O'Brien added: "The next target for him is the French Derby. He's really come on for his first run and he's come forward lovely."

O'Brien also confirmed that 2,000 Guineas winner George Washington will now go for the Irish equivalent at the Curragh on May 27th.

The fillies' equivalent, the Gainsborough Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, also yielded a thrilling finish, with Tie Black being handed the race in the stewards' room. Pascal Bary's Price Tag came with a terrific late run to be first past the post, but Thierry Thulliez's mount was judged to have interfered with third-placed Impressionnante and was demoted to third. O'Brien's Kamarinskaya showed up well until weakening in the straight.