Racing

Royal Ascot: Day one a distant memory as Aidan O’Brien is top trainer, again

Irish trainer wins for eighth time; ‘Hard work by a lot of people day in and day out’

Queen Elizabeth II of England, and Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien on day five of Royal Ascot. Photograph: Getty Images

Sat Jun 24 2017 - 18:30

After Winter on Friday, it was September on Saturday for Aidan O’Brien as his filly stamped her authority on the Chesham Stakes, a race won 12 months ago with this year’s dual 2000 Guineas winner Churchill.

O'Brien said of the 11-8 favourite, who was ridden by Ryan Moore and is now the general 6-1 favourite for next year's 1000 Guineas: "She could be anything, she's very exciting.

“She could go to the Debutante and then the Moyglare. If she finished the season at a mile we can then see for next year.”

The O’Brien bandwagon continued as the Ballydoyle handler secured top trainer honours for the week for an eighth time when Idaho (9-2) won the Hardwicke Stakes, beating Barsanti and Chemical Charge. Queen Elizabeth II of England’s Dartmouth had every chance when hitting the front seemingly full of purpose, but in the end had to settle for fourth.

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Drawing a blank on the first day of Royal Ascot is just a distant memory for the Irish trainer, after Caravaggio and Winter provided him with a magnificent Group One double on Friday, and he followed that up on the final day.

“We’re obviously in a very privileged position to be working with such people and horses. It’s a lot of hard work by a lot of people day in and day out”- an ever-modest Aidan O’Brien was keen to deflect the praise to his team after another fantastic Royal Ascot for Ballydoyle.

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