Joseph O’Brien landed his third Vincent O’Brien Nationwide Stakes in 5 runnings because the extremely touted Scorthy Champ ran out a sport and decisive winner within the fingers of Dylan Browne McMonagle.
It was the rider’s second success within the race after he and O’Brien teamed as much as win in 2022 with Al Riffa, whereas the coach additionally received it with Thunder Moon in 2020.
The race formed up intriguingly with the winner racing on the within rail, seeing off the preliminary problem of the Hugo Palmer-trained Seagulls Eleven, after which dealing with the problem of odds-on favourite Henri Matisse.Â
The distinction between the 2 couldn’t have been extra stark, with Scorthy Champ operating to the road straight and true, whereas Henri Matisse wandered round, bumped Seagulls Eleven and didn’t look fully easy. The favourite held on to second place after a stewards’ inquiry.
This was all about Scorthy Champ, although, a Leopardstown maiden winner who had proven his lack of expertise when third to Henri Matisse within the Futurity Stakes right here the earlier month, however he seemed extra the completed article right here, justifying McMonagle’s determination to trip him forward of stablemate Cowardofthecounty, a gaggle 2 winner at Deauville final time.
McMonagle stated: “He is a really proficient horse. He is studying on a regular basis and continues to be an enormous child. The pace was on right here. I used to be at all times very comfy, he was powerful within the final furlong and bought to the road robust.
“We have been behind Henri Matisse right here final time, however I left considering I might have the higher of him at present, the way in which he ran to the road.Â
“Everybody has achieved a terrific job with him at residence. No person realizes how onerous it’s to get these large winners and it means quite a bit.Â
“This horse could have no downside getting additional. He has a very good temperament and definitely is not gradual on the again finish of a race.”
O’Brien stated: “It is so particular to win a gaggle 1 right here this weekend and I am particularly delighted to win this for Sam McAuley and Barry Fowler. Sam has been a terrific supporter of ours for a variety of years. We have had some good horses for him and I believed early on this 12 months that this horse could possibly be a very nice one for him.
“He has somewhat little bit of brilliance about him. We have been very proud of him final time. He had somewhat hold-up after he received at Leopardstown and had somewhat little bit of a break, not by alternative. So I might say there’s an opportunity we’d see him once more this 12 months. Subsequent 12 months I might see him extra as a miler; this 12 months the Lagardere or the Breeders’ Cup could be potential targets.”
