Colm O'Donoghue scores in French 2000 Guineas

By Tom Krish
May 16, 2007

Now here is news that ought to make racing fans in India very happy. Colm O'Donoghue rode Astronomer Royal, an Aidan O'Brien-trained colt, to victory in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the French 2000 Guineas. Colm brought Astronomer Royal from far back to pass the entire field to win by half a length. The time for the Group I mile race was 1 37.1.

Aidan O'Brien had five runners in the 14-horse field. Astronomer Royal was quoted at 33-1 in Britain. The winning return in France was 3.40 because of the five-part entry.

It was Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning again who had to play second fiddle. Their Creachador was handy, assumed command to shape like a winner inside the final furlong only to knuckle under.

Colm O'Donoghue (white cap) drives Astronomer Royal to classic glory

Honoured Guest, another O'Brien trainee, finished third. The first, third and fourth places were taken by Aidan O'Brien.

The favored Battle Paint, heading the French brigade, set the pace and threw in the towel when looked in the eye in the lane.

Astronomer Royal's prior start in the Prix de Fontainebleu had been so uninspiring that he was the least fancied among the O'Brien runners. It was a striking form reversal. O'Brien stated, "Colm was patient and gave a good ride. He learned a lot when beaten in the Fontainebleu. This horse has come on very well. All my horses did well and there are several options ahead."

Astronomer Royal's father is the late Danzig. Sheepscot is the dam. Easy Goer, the Belmont Stakes hero, is the sire of Speed Scot. The race was worth 228,560 euros to the winner.

Aqaleem, a Sinndar colt, won the Derby Trial at Lingfield Park. In the hands of Richard Hills, Aqaleem won going away.

In the Derrinstown Derby Trial in Ireland, Mick Kinane steered Archipenko to victory. One of Archipenko's victims was McCarthur, a full brother of Motivator, the 2005 Epsom Derby winner.

York Race Course hosts the Musidora Stakes this week. This race is for fillies targeting the Oaks. Then there is the Dante Stakes, a race that North Light (2004) and Motivator (2005) used as the springboard to success in the Derby.

It will be a small field for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course coming Saturday. Pimlico is in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is over 1 3/16 miles. Street Sense is being reopposed by Hard Spun and Curlin. Street Sense is being hailed as a Triple Crown winner. The last Triple Crown champion was Affirmed in 1978. The 18 year-old Steve Cauthen was the jockey.