Dubawi Colt To The Fore In The Dee

Since Aidan O'Brien first came to Chester in 2005, the year that the stable opened its account in the Listed Dee S. with Gypsy King (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the May Festival has acted as a stage set for the yard's dominant actors in the middle-distance category. Thursday's edition of that 10-furlong Derby trial went their way for the 10th time as San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–Rain Goddess {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) manipulated the bends of the Roodee circuit with a professionalism that belied his inexperience. As tactical as it gets here, the latest edition could have found out colt and jockey had the homebred not had the ideal aptitude and partner for that eventuality as Ryan Moore guided the Tabor colour-bearer to the milestone win for the trainer, now just one shy of Barry Hills's record of 11.

Coming in off a win in the same extended 10-furlong Dundalk maiden won by the stable's 2022 G3 Chester Vase scorer Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the son of the G3 Snow Fairy S. winner and G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S. runner-up was only third favourite at 16-5 for the Blue Riband prep which lost two runners including the intriguing Wood Ditton winner Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}). Ridden forward from the break as the well-supported 11-10 favourite Alder (Ire) (Australia {GB}) missed it and ended up over-racing along with Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), San Antonio was quickly in his comfort zone in a close-up second guided by another free runner in Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Enjoying the rail trip with the market-leaders stacked up in behind, he was committed three out and there to be shot at as Alder swung wide in the straight but that Donnacha O'Brien trainee could get no closer than 1 3/4 lengths at the line as Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Local Dynasty ended up 2 1/4 lengths further behind in third.

Habitually, by this time in May O'Brien is already having to juggle his many Derby prospects and he was pondering options for the winner on Thursday with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) still very much the stable's number one for Epsom. “It was messy around there, but Ryan controlled the race and he got the mile and a quarter very well there,” he said. “He obviously looks very adaptable and looks like a horse who'd get further and this was a trial, so he has to be looked at as one who could go to a Derby–either at Epsom or France–or he could go to [Royal] Ascot.”

San Antonio is the second foal out of the dam, who is a granddaughter of the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo). The fourth dam Legend Maker (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) was also responsible for the stable's group 1 performers by Danehill, Chevalier (Ire) (Danehill) and Alexander Of Hales. Rain Goddess's 2-year-old colt The Liffey (Ire) is by No Nay Never, while she also has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Another @Boodles Dee Stakes for Aidan O'Brien! San Antonio does the business under Ryan Moore at @ChesterRaces… pic.twitter.com/cgb1UfQC0b

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 11, 2023