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Another win for Aidan O'Brien as Innisfree prevails in Beresford thriller

Innisfree (far side) narrowly denies Shekhem
Innisfree (far side) narrowly denies ShekhemCredit: Patrick McCann

Innisfree continued Aidan O'Brien's total domination of the Group 2 Beresford Stakes when denying Shekhem by a neck in a rousing finish at the Curragh.

Winner of a Galway maiden in July by the same margin from the same rival, the son of Galileo was making it nine straight wins in the race and 19 in total for O'Brien, following the likes of Japan, Saxon Warrior and St Nicholas Abbey.

Winning rider Donnacha O'Brien said: "It went smoothly. Chris [Hayes on Shekhem] went a nice, even gallop. My lad travelled well and brought me into the race really nicely and toughed it out in the final furlong."

O'Brien is yet to have a Beresford winner go on to score in the Derby and Innisfree was quoted at 33-1 by Paddy Power for Epsom with the market dominated by this year's standout juvenile Pinatubo at 8-1.


Aidan O'Brien's Beresford Stakes winners

1996 Johan Cruyff
1997 Saratoga Springs
1998 Festival Hall
1999 Lermontov
2000 Turnberry Isle
2001 Castle Gandolfo
2004 Albert Hall
2005 Septimus
2006 Eagle Mountain
2009 St Nicholas Abbey
2011 David Livingston
2012 Battle Of Marengo
2013 Geoffrey Chaucer
2014 Ol' Man River
2015 Port Douglas
2016 Capri
2017 Saxon Warrior
2018 Japan
2019 Innisfree


However, the winning rider was keen to emphasise the speed Innisfree possessed. "He's not slow, he's not the kind of horse I'd be saying 'I can't wait to get him over a mile and a half'. He'll probably get middle distances but he's got a bit of boot," he said.

"He should come forward again and nicer ground will suit him."

Sunday's race was only the third of Innisfree's career and his jockey, who was winning the race for the first time, said runner-up Shekhem, who raced quite keenly in front, was a notable adversary.

"Shekhem won well at Listowel and I knew he was no slouch." O'Brien added.

Innisfree, who carries the colours of Derrick Smith, holds Group 1 entries in the Dewhurst and Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes before the end of the season.

In the past 50 years ten winners of the Beresford Stakes went on to achieve Classic success but only two – Nijinsky (1969) and Sea The Stars (2008) – won the Derby at Epsom.

Dermot Weld, trainer of Shekhem, said: "He's a good colt and a very brave one. I'm very pleased with him. He's been a solid performer all season and gives you 110 per cent

"When he was beaten by Innisfree at Galway there was a neck between them and there was a neck between them again today."

Asked if middle distances will be the call for Shekhem next year, Weld said: "Probably, but before that he could be around come Guineas time."

The Jessica Harrington-trained Gold Maze was three and three-quarter lengths behind Shekhem in third place.

The winner's stablemates Cormorant and Royal County Down were absentees due to the heavy ground conditions, leaving a field of five runners for the race, which returned to the Curragh having been run at Naas in 2017 and 2018.


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Tony O'HehirRacing Post Reporter

Published on 29 September 2019inReports

Last updated 08:10, 30 September 2019

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