By Tom Frary
Continuing the buoyant form of the Ballydoyle stable in Britain, Venice Beach justified Ryan Moore's pick of the yard's quartet to lead home a Rosegreen one-two-three and state his Derby claim as so many have done in this race before him. Sent off at 16-1 when a half-length second to TDN Rising Star Titus (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in a mile maiden at Leopardstown in October, the half-brother to the Arc and King George heroine Danedream was sent back there to be third in a soft-ground 10-furlong maiden Apr. 5 behind Insayshable (Ire) (Rajj {Ire}) who subsequently ran so well when fourth in Sunday's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. Off the mark by 5 1/2 lengths upped to this trip in a Tipperary maiden Apr. 20, the bay broke well which allowed him the luxury of picking his spot as stablemate The Anvil was bustled up to take the lead. Perfectly poised on the rail slipstreaming that animator, he was able to take the gap when it came after the home turn and was into the lead with just over a furlong left. Driven out as the stable's other challenger Wings of Eagles closed in, he stayed on to secure the win which was a fifth consecutive and record eighth in total for Aidan O'Brien.
All of the last 10 winners of this race went on to contest the Epsom Derby and Venice Beach looks set to keep that sequence going. “I thought it was a very good performance from a lightly-raced colt who is still learning,” Moore said. “He started very well, but they didn't go mad up front and he was still a bit babyish through the race. He was still looking around after he had gone to win the race and is a colt with plenty of potential. He has a beautiful pedigree and a good brain.” O'Brien added, “We knew he stays a mile and a half, but he's a bit lazy and babyish and so it was important to bring him here to learn. The lads will talk about the Derby, but he handles quick ground and I think this is a horse who will improve.”
Danedrop, who also has a 2-year-old full-sister to the winner, had the raw material to throw a runner of the calibre of Danedream, being a granddaughter of the Prix Royal-Oak heroine Lady Berry. That influential producer was responsible for six black-type performers including the G1 Prix Vermeille-winning champion Indian Rose (Fr) (General Holme), the G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Vert Amande (Fr) and G1 Grand Prix de Paris-winning sire Le Nain Jaune (Fr). Four of her other daughters Featherhill (Fr) (Lyphard), Sea Hill (Seattle Slew), Pieds de Plume (Fr) (Seattle Slew) and Keltshaan (Pleasant Colony) went on to make a serious impact themselves as broodmares, with the sires Groom Dancer, Slew the Slewor, Tagel, Falco and Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) and the group 1-winning fillies Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Absolutely (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Abbey Marie (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) the best of several classy descendants.
Thursday, Chester, Britain
MBNA CHESTER VASE S.-G3, £75,000, CHE, 5-11, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT, 2:35.84, gd.
1–#@VENICE BEACH (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Rose Bonbon (Fr), by High Top (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lady Berry (Fr), by Violon d'Ingres (Fr)
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Flaxman Stables; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £42,533. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $67,626. *1/2 to Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), Horse of the Year-Ger, Ch. 3yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. 3yo-Fr, Ger & Ity at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng & Ger at 11-14f, MG1SW-Ger, G1SW-Eng & Fr, GSW-Ity, $5,044,792; and Debutante (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wings of Eagles (Fr), 126, c, 3, Pour Moi (Ire)–Ysoldina (Fr), by Kendor (Fr). (€220,000 Ylg '15 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Gilles & Aliette Forien (FR); T-Aidan O'Brien. £16,125.
3–The Anvil (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Brightest (GB), by Rainbow Quest. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £8,070.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 1. Odds: 2.50, 8.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Tamleek, Count Octave (GB), Cunco (Ire), Finn McCool (Ire), Druids Cross (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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