Galileo's Kew Gardens Leads Home O'Brien One-Two-Three In the Vase

Kew Gardens and Aidan O'Brien | Racing Post

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Without a winner on day one, Ballydoyle hit back with a vengeance early on Wednesday with Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in firm command of a one-two-three for the stable in the G2 Queen's Vase. Ninth when aggressively ridden in the G1 Epsom Derby June 2, the 10-3 second favourite was held up towards the back this time by Ryan Moore who needed to get his pick of the stable's trio right after an uncharacteristically quiet first day. Staying on strongly to collar the exuberant front-runner Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the bay galloped to a 4 1/2-length success from Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ousted Nelson by a neck in the dying strides. “We've always thought he'd stay this far and he loves fast ground,” Aidan O'Brien said. “We had been very happy with him since Epsom and Donnacha, who rode him in the Derby, said to maybe take a bit more time on him next time and that would suit. It was Nelson's first run back for a while, while Seamus's horse is a big baby who will improve a lot as the year goes on. Kew Garadens could go back for the [G1] Irish Derby [at The Curragh June 30] or have a little rest and be trained for the [G1] St Leger [at Doncaster Sept. 15]. In the autumn, that would be a lovely race for him but it's a long way off and if he comes out of this as well as he did the Derby he can go anywhere.”

Hardened by a second to Nelson in the G3 Golden Fleece S., or Champions Juvenile S., on Irish Champions Day at Leopardstown and fourth to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Beresford S. at Naas in September, Kew Gardens handed Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) a 3 1/2-length beating upped from a mile to 10 furlongs in Newmarket's Listed Zetland S. the next month. Lacklustre on his return when third in the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. back at Newmarket Apr. 17, the bay lost a shoe when chasing home Knight To Behold (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial over an extended 11 furlongs May 12 and took on that rival for the lead in the Derby before folding in the straight. As so often happens with Ballydoyle's Epsom runners who were left trailing, he managed a rapid turnaround in his fortunes under a contrasting ride which had St Leger or even Ascot Gold Cup written all over it.

On a day when Sir Michael Stoute clinched the overall record of Royal Ascot winners and went to 77, Aidan O'Brien was just 15 behind after this and Moore was on 49. “He's a lovely horse, the trip suited him and hopefully he can go on from there,” the rider said. “He was slightly disappointing at Epsom, but that can happen as we know. We thought this trip would suit him. Aidan told me he has a very good mind and he gets the trip fine. He appreciates nice, level tracks so Doncaster would suit him well.” Donnacha O'Brien said of Nelson, “He ran really well and will be a lovely stayer. He just wants two miles plus. His stride never shortened at all–he just kept galloping all the way to the line.”

Kew Gardens' dam was the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) and a real fast-ground performer, so it was no surprise to see her son step up on this dry surface. She had previously produced two black-type runners headed by the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) whose distance requirements lay at the other extreme. With a 2-year-old full-brother and yearling full-sister to the winner to follow, she hails from the family of the G2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer and GI San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. runner-up River Warden (Riverman) and the GIII Hoist the Flag S. scorer Sweettuc (Spectacular Bid).

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN'S VASE-G2, £200,000, Ascot, 6-20, 3yo, 14f 34yT, 3:00.89, g/f.
1–KEW GARDENS (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 9.5-10.5f, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Ity, $527,260), by Desert King (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino
3rd Dam: Sweet Simone (Fr), by Green Dancer
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael
Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan
Moore. £113,420. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 9-3-2-1, $242,657.
*1/2 to Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Fr,
$262,616; and Hamlool (Ire) (Red Ransom), SP-Eng. Click for
   the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++   *Triple Plus*.
2–Southern France (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Alta Anna (Fr),
by Anabaa. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor;
B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.
£43,000.
3–Nelson (Ire), 126, c, 3, Frankel%20(GB)#tot">Frankel (GB)–Moonstone (GB), by
Dalakhani (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick
Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.
£21,520.
Margins: 4HF, NK, 2 3/4. Odds: 3.30, 4.50, 4.50.
Also Ran: Almoghared (Ire), Yabass (Ire), Drapers Guild (GB), Stream of Stars (GB), Sovereign Duke (Ger), King's Proctor (Ire),
Lynwood Gold (Ire), Jeremiah (GB), Dubai Empire (Fr).  Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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