Racehorse TALK

Roderic O'Connor has enough to see off Salto despite hanging right

  PICTURE: Scoop Dyga

Roderic O'Connor wins Criterium for Ballydoyle

Report: France, Sunday

Saint-Cloud: Criterium International (Group 1) 1m 2yo

RODERIC O'CONNOR provided Aidan O'Brien with back-to-back wins in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Sunday despite hanging violently to the right in the home straight.

The winner gave a boost to the form of Frankel having finished two and a quarter lengths behind the star juvenile in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last time.

Having taken up the running just before they turned for home, he was clear of his rivals before lurching across the track towards the stands' side rail when coming under pressure fromJohnny Murtagh around a furlong and a half from home.

Despite that blip, the son of Galileo had enough left in the tank to see off the challengers with Salto finishing second and the Clive Brittain-trained Abjer edging out Rerouted, trained by Barry Hills, for third.

Bookmaker reaction to Roderic O'Connor's victory was pretty muted. William Hill cut the winner to 10-1 (from 12) for the Investec Derby at Epsom in June while Stan James went 12-1 (from 14).

The same two firms also trimmed him for the 2,000 Guineas, going 10-1 (from 12), and O'Brien nominated the Newmarket Classic at the end of April as his early season target.

"We'll probably prepare him for next year's 2,000 Guineas," he said. "His last run was great as he had a break before.

"We had wanted to cover him up today but could not because of the draw and I think he got a bit lonely in front," the trainer, who was winning this Group 1 for the third time having also taken it in 2006, added.

Frankel could start as short as 2-5 for Guineas

BOOKMAKERS fear that the raw power of Frankel's Totesport.com Greenham Stakes win could have his Qipco 2,000 Guineas rivals running scared and onSaturday predicted that the unbeaten colt could go off as short as 2-5 for the first Classic of the season.

Before Saturday's demolition job the son of Galileo was a best priced 5-6 for Guineas glory butfollowing his impressive four-length win Victor Chandler cut Henry Cecil's unbeaten star to as short as 4-9 for Newmarket glory.

Ladbrokes went 1-2 (from 5-6) about Frankel for the Guineas and spokesman David Williams said: "I hope it's not the case, but it is not beyond the realms of possibilities that we could have single figures running in the Guineas.

"Before Frankel won impressively some might have thought, We'll shoot for the moon. Now many trainers, owners and connections might think, Let's go to Paris, let's go to the Curragh.

"Based on a small field Frankel could go off as short as 2-5.  We are happy to lay Frankel for the Derby but we want to be with him for the Guineas."

Victor Chandler's Charlie McCann said: "We've gone 4-9 because we want tostay on the right side of him. We are that price because of we've taken a £550,000 bet at 10-11."

Kate Miller of William Hill, who go 4-7 (from 4-5) said: "It all depends how the field cuts up, there couldbe quite a few that come out - if that happens he could go off  4-9."

Henry Cecil: strong Classic hand

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Before Saturday the form of the Henry Cecil stable had been called into question but those fears were firmly put to bed with Cecil leaving Newbury with not one, but two legitimate Classic contenders.

Cecil's World Domination, who like Frankel is owned by Khalid Abdullah, has been something of a talking horse following glorious gallop reports in recent weeks, yet he was allowed to go offat 3-1 for his debut in the 1m3f maiden on Newbury's card.

The son of Empire Maker, out of Cecil's Oaks winner Reams Of Verse, crushed his 13 rivals  to earn quotes of 8-1 with the majority of bookmakers for the Investec Derby (from 16), although Totesport offer a standout 10-1. The same firm make Frankel their 3-1 favourite.

Charlie McCann added: "We now know one of the talking horses of the winter, World Domination, is no morning glory and, whilst we will now more about his realistic Epsom credentials after his next race - likely to be the Dante - we have cut the Cecil colt to 8-1."

Frankel unlikely to have pacemaker
17 Apr 2011

Connections of odds-on Qipco 2000 Guineas favourite Frankel have all but ruled out the possibility of supplementing a pacemaker for the Classic.

Trainer Henry Cecil ran Derby prospect Picture Editor in the hope of setting a good gallop for the unbeaten colt in the Greenham, but by halfway Frankel had cruised upsides.

Owner Khalid Abdullah still has the likes of Dux Scholar and Rerouted engaged, but they are trained by Sir Michael Stoute and Barry Hills respectively.

"I've spoken to Henry and he's come out of the race really well and the race went pretty much according to plan," said Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe.

"I don't think I was worried at any stage. He seems to be pulling but he has such a tremendous stride which helps him dominate his races.

"We wouldn't supplement a pacemaker, I don't think. We'll see how the race looks like shaping up and discuss with Henry what might be the best plan - all these things are up for discussion.

"I think we've always been excited about him, ever since he's been a young horse. I would hope we'll see a better Frankel in the Guineas - Henry said he'd left a bit to work on and he should come on a good deal.

"I wouldn't want to be too dogmatic at the moment regarding the Derby."

Cecil happy with route to Guineas
21 Apr 2011

Frankel again showed his well-being on the Newmarket gallops on Thursday morning as connections prepare to give him the assistance of a pacemaker in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

The red-hot Classic favourite looked in great shape as he worked up Warren Hill with regular companion Bullet Train.

Picture Editor proved a less-than-effective pacemaker for Frankel on his successful reappearance in the Greenham last weekend, and the Barry Hills-trained Rerouted, in the same ownership, is set to carry out the task on Saturday week.

Trainer Henry Cecil told At The Races: "It's not definite (using a pacemaker) but that's the idea. We want a nice, level, sensible gallop. We may use the horse of Barry Hills' and he has very kindly said he would help us.

"It's always nerve-wracking, but if you don't get excited and nervous it's time to call it a day I think.

"It's not a one-horse race at all. I think Jessica Harrington's horse (Pathfork) is very, very useful and Aidan O'Brien's horse (Roderic O'Connor) is a good horse.

"We'll see, I wouldn't swap mine but on the other hand there's no such thing as a certainty. I'm hopeful he will give a good account of himself, win or lose."