by Myra Lewyn

Lord Admiral, a veteran group performer in Dubai, Europe, and the United States, earned his breakthrough victory in Dubai on Thursday when capturing the $200,000 Al Rashidiya (UAE-G3) for legendary Irish trainer-turned-owner Vincent O’Brien.

Trained by O’Brien’s son Charles, the seven-year-old El Prado (Ire) horse easily clinched the 1,777-meter (8.83-furlong) race, defeating French classic-placed Gharir by 3¾ lengths while covering the distance in 1:49.34 under Mick Kinane.

Lord Admiral, who won the 2007 Ballycorus Stakes (Ire-G3) at Leopardstown, was winless in five starts in Dubai in 2006 and ’07, but had finished on the board in three stakes at Nad al Sheba, including two group events.

The younger O’Brien, a regular visitor to Dubai, also notched his first victory in the tiny emirate.

“It’s my first winner in Dubai,” Charles O’Brien said of Lord Admiral. “We’ve been close a couple of times with him before but we were nothing more than hopeful.”

Lord Admiral improved to five wins in 39 career starts, but his resume includes second- or third-place finishes in 18 stakes, including his third-place finishes in the 2006 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-G1) at the Curragh and Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes (G2) at Del Mar among 13 group stakes-placings.

Lord Admiral finished second in the ’06 Al Rostamani Group Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-G2) and Derrinstown Stud Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) and was unplaced in both events last season, but Charles O’Brien has penciled in those races for his runner’s ’08 Dubai campaign while hoping for an invitation to compete in the $5-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) on March 29.

Vincent O’Brien founded Ballydoyle training center in Ireland before retiring in 1994 as arguably the greatest European trainer of the 20th century. He trained winners of 27 Irish classics and 16 English classics. His roster of notable runners includes Nijinksy II, Roberto, Golden Fleece, Sir Ivor, The Minstrel, and Alleged.

In 1975 with John Magnier and the late Robert Sangster, O’Brien established Coolmore Stud, which has since become the world’s largest breeding operation.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor