Galileo's US Army Ranger Fights For Chester Vase Win

US Army Ranger (right) edges Port Douglas in the Chester Vase | Racing Post

SKIRMISH SURVIVED
Made hot favourite for the Derby after his debut win in deep ground over 10 furlongs at The Curragh Apr. 3, US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) did little to light the touchpaper when only workmanlike in following up in Thursday's G3 MBNA Chester Vase. Sent off the 4-11 market leader for the mile-and-a-half trial with all the post-Minding 1000 Guineas attention focused on him, the bay was settled in second by Ryan Moore behind his G2 Beresford S.-winning stablemate Port Douglas (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Sent up the inner of his “friend” as the rail cut-away came with over a furlong remaining, the blaze-faced bay looked as if he would go away and stamp some authority on the contest with the long-time leader tending to lug in to his left. Digging deep for the whip, US Army Ranger galloped out strongly to hold on with Port Douglas–who carried a four-pound penalty–rallying under hand riding and prevailed by a short head as they came seven lengths clear of Ormito (Ger) (Mamool {Ire}) in third. In doing so, he provided Aidan O'Brien with a record seventh renewal, all in the last 10 years. “He's still very babyish, but travelled really nicely and I just wanted to teach him,” his rider said. “When he got to the front he had a bit of a look and as the other horse came back he was just going to do enough. He'll improve plenty–I was probably a bit too kind to him when he first went there and he's probably switched lineoff for me. He didn't know how to fight, so he'll learn a lot from that. Aidan's other horse isn't a bad horse–he's a group two winner who is very fit and hardened. My horse moved beautifully and I have no issues about him handling any track. I liked the way he moved through the race–I rode in the race when Treasure Beach just beat Nathaniel and people knocked that form, so you have to be very careful as it's early days for these 3-year-olds.” Aidan O'Brien added, “It wasn't a very strong pace early and Seamus' horse wasn't doing much in front, so it was only when they got together that the race really started. In an ideal world, he'd have preferred an end-to-end even gallop but it's a race he'll probably come out of very well because they only raced hard for the second half of the race. Port Douglas is a good solid group two horse and we've another 10 days to go through with all the Derby trials.” Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Thursday, Chester, Britain

MBNA CHESTER VASE-G3, £75,000, CHE, 5-5, 3yo, c/g, 12f 66yT, 2:41.07, gd.
1–#@US ARMY RANGER (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Moonstone (GB) (G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, $613,532), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Solo de Lune (Ire), by Law Society
3rd Dam: Truly Special (Ire), by Caerleon
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore, £42,533. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $72,163. *1/2 to Words (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), GSW-Ire; Nevis (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), SW-Aus & Eng, $200,814; and Stubbs (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), SW-Ire, SP-Eng & Nor, $110,592. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Port Douglas (Ire), 130, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Walzerkoenigin, by Kingmambo. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Walzerkoenigin Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £16,125.
3–Ormito (Ger), 126, c, 3, Mamool (Ire)–Ormita (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger). (€24,000 Ylg '14 BBAGS). O-R Morecombe & Mrs L E Ramsden; B-Horst-Dieter Beyer (GER); T-Andrew Balding. £8,070.
Margins: HD, 7, 2. Odds: 0.35, 5.50, 20.00.
Also Ran: Biodynamic (Ire), High Grounds (Ire), Dwight D (GB).

 

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