Horse Racing: NO DOUBTING THIS THOMAS; BUDWEISER IRISH DERBY: ANOTHER BIG RACE SUCCESS FOR BALLYDOYLE Classic win for Dylan, Fallon & O'Brien.

Byline: Peter O'HEHIR Racing Correspondent

DYLAN Thomas gave trainer Aidan O'Brien a fourth Budweiser Irish Derby victory when scoring a spectacular success in Ireland's premier classic at the Curragh yesterday.

Confidently handled by Kieren Fallon, the Epsom Derby third hit the front approaching the furlong pole before producing an explosive burst of speed which saw the son of Danehill stretch three and a half lengths clear of runner-up Gentlewave with Best Alibi third and Dragon Dancer fourth.

Dylan Thomas was following the example of Desert King, Galileo and High Chaparral, O'Brien's three previous winners of the race.

And O'Brien was high in his praise of Dylan Thomas: "He was very impressive and has lots of natural speed. Epsom was a messy race.

"He jumped quickly at Epsom and they went a stride too quick for him. And he was left in front far too soon.

"Everybody thought that, ridden differently, there might have been a different result at Epsom. And he put the record straight today.

"Johnny (Murtagh) suggested after Epsom that he might be better going right-handed. But I don't think it's a problem."

O'Brien added: "He settled much better today, which gave him a chance to show his speed. And, of course, Kieren gave him a super ride. He's an incredible man. The bigger the occasion, the cooler he seems to be.

"He's a special colt at a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. And all the options are open to him, which is a great problem to have.

"A lot will depend on whether Hurricane Run (also owned by the Coolmore team) goes for the King George.

"But a race like the Irish Champion Stakes would look a great race for him - a ten-furlong race with plenty of pace all the way."

Fallon, completing back-to-back wins in the race, having won on Hurricane Run last year, described the Derby as "a shit-hot race" and described Dylan Thomas as "a very special colt."

Fallon added: "He was very impressive. He settled and travelled well and found the gaps. But you can only find the gaps when you have lots of horse under you.

"He beat a serious field and, wherever he goes, he'll be very hard to beat for the rest of the season."

John Magnier, the Coolmore supremo, summed up his feelings about the outcome: "Being by Danehill makes all the difference. He died at 18 years of age but is known as a sire of sires. And that's the Holy Grail in our business."

And, when asked about the importance of Aidan O'Brien and Kieren Fallon in Coolmore's operation, he replied: "There are lots of great trainers around the world. But this man (O'Brien) beats them all."

And, referring to the winning rider, Magnier, suggested: "If I was looking for someone to take the fifth penalty in the World Cup, I'd pick Kieren."

Johnny Murtagh, rider of runner-up Gentlewave, one of four supplementary entries on Tuesday (which finished second, fourth and fifth places), explained: "I tracked Kieren all the way but, when he switched inside early in the straight, I couldn't go with him. I got to the outside and my horse stayed on really well.

"He felt like a horse that would appreciate an ease in the ground. And, when he gets it, he'll win a big one before the end of the season."

And Michael Kinane, who rode the third Best Alibi, declared, "He ran a blinder. But the winner was very impressive, in a different league."

O'Brien had earlier won the Group 2 Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks Railway Stakes for the eighth time when Holy Roman Emperor and Fallon swooped late to deny Drayton by three-quarters of a length.

O'Brien admitted that the circumstances were against the colt at Royal Ascot where Fallon "looked after him" and described the son of Danehill as "a real two-year-old, strong and powerful."

He later explained: "He'll have to step-up next time, probably in the Heinz (Group 1 Independent Waterford Wedgewood Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh next month) or one of those races."

Earlier, Dandy Man, so unlucky in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot proved himself the best three-year-old sprinter seen in Ireland for some time when landing the listed King Of Beers Stakes at the expense of last year's winner Benbaun and Osterhase.

Pat Shanahan, recording his second success since returning to action after a lengthy absence, tracked trail-blazing Osterhase before asserting his superiority.

Dandy Man's veteran trainer Con Collins was represented by his daughter and assistant Tracey, who declared: "I feel a lot of relief. We don't usually run horses back so soon and we were worried that it was a bit soon after his Royal Ascot run.

"But he told me he was ready to run. He has a massive constitution, is very laid back, a lively horse to train.

"He produced a very good performance at Royal Ascot, and was unlucky to be drawn high. But today was sweet."

Dandy Man will now be given a break before being prepared for the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.

Trainer Kevin Prendergast and stable-jockey Declan McDonogh provided Hamdan Al Maktoum with a fine double, thanks to the exploits of Taqseem in the John Roarty Memorial Scurry Handicap and Mustameet, a runaway winner of the listed Netjets Celebration Stakes.

CAPTION(S):

DELIGHT: Jockey Kieren Fallon savours the special moment' OH SO EASY: Dylan Thomas and Kieren Fallon romp to an emphatic Irish Derby success' TIGHT FINISH: Holy Roman Emperor Adventure Parks holds off Drayton in the Railway Stakes

Article Details

Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Title Annotation:	Sport
Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Jul 3, 2006
Words:	929
Previous Article:	YourLIFE: UNDER THE KNIFE.
Next Article:	Horse Racing: BETFLARE MAYHEM; Blaze leads to delay at Uttoxeter.