'Impressive' Whirl storms home to give Aidan O'Brien a remarkable tenth Classic trial this spring - but Oaks bid in doubt

What does a man have to do to get a little respect? Perhaps people thought he was due to get beaten. But you wouldn't bet on it, would you? Yet plenty of folk did.

Aidan O'Brien has been hoovering up Epsom trials like a supercharged Dyson from Leopardstown to Lingfield and all points in between, with his hugely powerful team of three-year-olds sweeping everything before them.

Yet that was not enough for punters looking at the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, who thought they knew better than the man who has trained more British Classic winners than anyone in history.

Whirl, sixth in a mile race on her reappearance, drifted right out to 7-2 for her step up in trip — joint third-favourite in a field of just six.

Which meant that those who kept the faith were handsomely rewarded as the Musidora followed the Cheshire Oaks, Lingfield Oaks Trial and Naas Oaks Trial in falling to a filly from Ballydoyle.

Nor did it ever look like going anywhere else. Whirl was always travelling strongly under Ryan Moore, who sent her to the front over three furlongs out and was always in command thereafter, passing the post a smooth five and a half lengths clear.

To be fair, Michael Tabor, who owns the filly in partnership with Derrick Smith and Sue Magnier, was taken aback by the manner of her success.

"I don't think anybody expected that particularly," he said. "But Aidan seems to be able to do that, as we know."

Michael Tabor: "I don't think anybody expected that"Credit: Getty Images

What we don't know is whether Whirl will turn up in the Betfred Oaks, for which she is a best-priced 10-1.

Tabor said: "I don't think Whirl is an Oaks filly. I think she'd probably get a mile and a half but a mile and a quarter in something like the Prix de Diane would be more suitable, I think. But I haven't discussed it with Derrick or John [Magnier] or Aidan. That's just my thinking."

Moore had more faith in the filly's stamina. "She's by Wootton Bassett, so you can kind of do most things. She was very comfortable stepping up to that trip today," he said. 

"I thought she was impressive. She's very straightforward, she was always travelling nicely. She wasn't doing a whole lot in front but kept responding. I thought it was a nice performance."

Ryan Moore: "She was very comfortable stepping up to that trip"Credit: Getty Images

Royal Ascot appears to be the likely destination for runner-up Serenity Prayer and third-placed Go Go Boots.

Trainer Andrew Balding's wife Anna Lisa Balding said of Serenity Prayer: "She struggled to go with them early as they went very quick but this is only her second run.

"To have beaten the fillies she has is exciting. I'd imagine she'd go to the Ribblesdale next, but Andrew and the owners will have a good chat."

Joint-trainer John Gosden said of Go Go Boots: "She had a little bit of trouble getting out of a pocket but she's run very nicely and learned a lot as that was her first time racing on grass.

"We're probably pointing more towards the Ribblesdale at this stage as that'll be the logical thing to do."

Aidan O'Brien in this year's Classic trials

Ballysax Stakes, March 30: Delacroix WINNER

Epsom Blue Riband Trial, April 22: Trinity College SECOND

Sandown Classic Trial, April 25: Swagman WINNER

Cheshire Oaks, May 7: Minnie Hauk WINNER

Chester Vase, May 7: Lambourn WINNER

Dee Stakes, May 8: Mount Kilimanjaro WINNER

Lingfield Oaks Trial, May 10: Giselle WINNER

Lingfield Derby Trial, May 10: Puppet Master WINNER

Naas Oaks Trial, May 10: Garden Of Eden WINNER

Leopardstown Derby Trial, May 11: Delacroix WINNER

Musidora Stakes, May 14: Whirl WINNER

Latest Epsom betting

Betfred Oaks (June 6, Epsom)
Betfred: 3 Desert Flower, 7 Minnie Hauk, 8 Whirl, 10 Falakeyah, Giselle, 14 Lake Victoria, 16 Alobayyah, Ballet Slippers, Dreamy, 20 bar

Betfred Derby (June 7, Epsom)
Betfred: 11-4 The Lion In Winter, 7-2 Ruling Court, 4 Delacroix, 8 Twain, 18 Lambourn, 20 Alpine Trail, Mount Kilimanjaro, 25 bar 

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