3 minute read
Donnacha O’Brien lands first Group 1
Donnacha O’Brien enjoyed the biggest day of his training career to date as he denied his father Aidan a first win in the Prix de Diane (Gr 1, 2100m) when Fancy Blue (3 f ex Chenchikova by Sadler's Wells) prevailed in four way finish in the Classic and in the process handed late Japanese stallion Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) with his 47th Group 1 winner.
Last seen running second to Peaceful (Galileo) in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1 , 1m), Fancy Blue came out on top of a close finish to beat last start Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Alpine Star (Sea The Moon) by head, while there was the same distance back to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Peaceful in third.
"She's a very good filly and Pierre gave her a great ride," Donnacha O'Brien said.
"I'm very lucky to have her and am very lucky to have the people around me, so it's great to repay their faith.
"We used the Irish Guineas as a prep for one of the Oaks. We weren't sure where we wanted to go, but she finished that race well, so the obvious step was to go up in trip and there was great prize-money in France, and we got to avoid [brilliant Oaks winner] Love, so this was the obvious target and thankfully it worked out.
"We'll look forward to the rest of the season with her. We'll bring her home, speak to the owners and then make a plan. She seemed to handle the travelling well today so the Arc is not impossible."
The filly is out of winning mare Chenchikova (Sadler’s Wells), making her a half-sister to Listed winners Casterton (Fastnet Rock) and Smuggler’s Cove (Fastnet Rock), who was also placed at Group 1 level.
Chenchikova herself is out of Kasora (Darshaan), who also produced multiple Group 1 and high-class sire High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) and Group 2 winner Black Bear Island (Sadler’s Wells), while she also produced Listed-placed Treasure The Lady (Indian Ridge) - who is herself the grandam of 1,000 Guineas Trial (Gr 3, 7f) winner Love Locket (No Nay Never) and Listed winner Raakib Alhawa (Kingman).
Kasora is also the grandam of Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2500m) winner Hunting Horn (Camelot) and Group 2 winner David Livingston (Galileo).
Deep Impact is represented in the southern hemisphere by his sire sons; Saxon Warrior, Staphanos, Satono Aladdin, Tosen Stardom and Al Ain, who will stand his first season at Chatswood Stud for a fee of NZ$12,100 (plus GST).
Deep Impact, who stood at the Shadai Stallion Station, died last year.
#Plat #Chantilly #DianeJockeyAtHome @Longines
— Equidia (@equidia) July 5, 2020
La fille de #DeepImpact, Fancy Blue (Declan O'Brien), remporte l'édition 2020 du Prix de Diane Longines. La favorite, Alpine Star (Jessica Harrington) est deuxième, Peaceful (A. P. O'Brien) termine troisième. pic.twitter.com/nqTTKJjqOt
