NEWS
Alfred Nobel collars stablemate in Phoenix Stakes
Posted: Sunday, July 26, 2009 2:06 PM
ALFRED NOBEL AND MURTAGH SCORE GROUP 1 WIN AT THE CURRAGH
Caroline Norris/Racing Post photo
by Mike Curry
Sent off as the favorite off a Group 2 victory in June, Alfred Nobel wound up in a dogfight with a surprising challenger in the Camas Park and Ashtown House Phoenix Stakes (Ire-G1) on Sunday at the Curragh.
The NetJets Railway Stakes (Ire-G2) winner was fully extended under Johnny Murtagh to overhaul stablemate and 33-to-1 longshot Air Chief Marshal in the final furlong. The Danehill Dancer colt edged past that foe in the closing strides to win by a half-length and extend his winning streak to three for trainer Aidan O’Brien and owners Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor.
The 5-to-4 favorite in the eight-horse field was one of four Ballydoyle entries in the six-furlong race, and Alfred Nobel finished gamely on turf rated as heavy to prevail in 1:20.32.
"He's a proper horse and will hopefully be a [Two Thousand] Guineas horse. We will look at the National Stakes [(Ire-G1) on September 12] for him this year,” O’Brien told Racing Post.
With both of his previous wins coming on turf rated as good, O’Brien said he was concerned with how Alfred Nobel would handle the soft ground.
“He has progressed with every run and he has an impressive change of gears. It was just a case of if he could use them on that ground,” O’Brien said. “Not many horses can do that and he looks a real good one."
Alfred Nobel spoiled Air Chief Marshal’s bid for his first stakes victory, but did little to tarnish a strong performance.
"He ran a super race and he is starting to get his act together,” O’Brien said of the bay Danehill Dancer colt, who was ridden by the trainer’s eldest son, Joseph. “He is versatile with regards to trip and has plenty of options."
Group 3 winner Walk On Bye completed a sweep of the top three spots by prominent Coolmore stallion Danehill Dancer.
A bay filly, Walk On Bye finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Air Field Marshal as the 11-to-8 second betting choice. She entered off a victory against males in the Jebel Ali Stables and Racecourse Anglesey Stakes (Ire-G3) on July 12 at the Curragh.
Alfred Nobel was bred in Ireland by Lodge Park Stud and purchased by John Magnier for $399,029 at the 2008 Tattersalls October yearling sale. He is out of the winning Desert Prince (Ire) mare Glinting Desert and from the family of two-time European champion and 2008 Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner New Approach.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
