By Tom Frary
Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at The Curragh had a more open look to it than the betting suggested beforehand and that proved the case as the Joseph O'Brien-trained outsider Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Fidaaha {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) stepped up to earn the bragging rights.
Third behind this race's favourite Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on his second start over this course and seven-furlong trip in the G2 Futurity Stakes last month, the 12-1 shot who had won on debut at Leopardstown in May raced on the wing halfway down the field throughout the early stages.
Sent forward by Dylan Browne McMonagle to reel in the British raider Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) approaching the furlong pole, the flashy chestnut who races for Rectory Road Holdings Limited, Barry Fowler and Anne Marie O'Brien stayed on to score by 3/4 of a length from the 5-6 market-leader Henri Matisse, with Seagulls Eleven the same margin behind in third.
O'Brien, who had sent out Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to win this in 2020 and 2022, was not surprised by the outcome. “He's a very talented horse,” he said. “He's still learning and is still a big baby. I knew he'd stay well and he went through the gears nicely from halfway, was good and tough in the last furlong and got to the line strong.”
“He's going to have no problem getting further, as he relaxes good and he's got a really good temperament,” he added. “It was a fantastic ride by Dylan and I'm so delighted for Barry Fowler, who's in the partnership with Sam McCauley, who's been such a huge supporter of ours for the last number of years and it's so special to win a group 1 for them. We knew whatever happened the last day, we were going to be better for the run after his lay-off and I thought he was really impressive. Dylan felt that he idled in front. He's top-notch. “I see him more as a miler, so I suppose he could go for the Lagardere or the Breeders' Cup.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Henri Matisse, “He's a baby still. When he got there the last day he jinked and he did the same today. He's still probably physically mature, but he's mentally immature,” he said. “I knew Joseph fancied the winner and it was probably a good race.”
Pedigree Notes
Three of Fidaaha's first four foals have now won at group level, with her first being the winner's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and G3 Prix Imprudence-winning full-sister Malavath (Ire) who was also and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G1 Prix de la Foret. She was followed by Mehmas's G3 Horris Hill Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star Knight (Ire), who was also second in the G2 Celebration Mile, while Fidaaha is a full-sister to the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes winner Ceisteach (Ire) and a half to the dual group 3 winner and dual group 1-placed Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised). From the family of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Shalanaya (Ire) (Lomitas {GB}), her 2024 colt is also by Mehmas while she was bred to Not This Time this year.
Revenge 🟨🟪
𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩 reverses Futurity Stakes form with Henri Matisse to land the Group 1 @Goffs1866 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.@JosephOBrien2 | @DylanBrowneMcM pic.twitter.com/tw4KwCRpbh
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 15, 2024
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT O'BRIEN NATIONAL STAKES-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-15, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:25.08, gd.
1–SCORTHY CHAMP (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
1st Dam: Fidaaha (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ceist Eile (Ire), by Noverre
3rd Dam: Sharafanya (Ire), by Zafonic
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (155,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Rectory Road Holdings Ltd, Barry Fowler & Anne Marie O'Brien; B-Healthy Wood Co Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Browne McMonagle. €240,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $283,017. *Full to Malavath (Ire), MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GISP-US, $534,111; Full to Knight (Ire), GSW-Eng, $103,121. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Henri Matisse (Ire), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Immortal Verse (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd; B-Immortal Verse Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Seagulls Eleven (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo Gold (GB)–Thrilled (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (50,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Two Plus Three Two Plus Four; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. €40,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 12.00, 0.83, 7.00.
Also Ran: Aomori City (Fr), Cowardofthecounty (Ire), Rock Of Cashel (Ire), Hill Road, The Parthenon (Ire).
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