It was a case of two Classic trials and two front-running wins for the Aidan O’Brien stable at Chester on Wednesday.
First up was Thoughts Of June, who broke her maiden in the Listed Cheshire Oaks (1m3½f) under a fine ride from Ryan Moore to hand her trainer a ninth victory in the contest.
Moore set out to make every yard of the running on the daughter of Galileo, owned by Moyglare Stud, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, and they held off the late charge of favourite Above The Curve – who had beaten Thoughts Of June at Leopardstown last month – to take the spoils by a neck.
Thirty minutes later and Moore repeated the feat on Changingoftheguard in the Group 3 Chester Vase (1m4½f).
Godolphin’s unbeaten colt New London was all the rage in the market, but he never looked entirely happy on the track as Moore set out to make it a true test on Changingoftheguard.
The son of Galileo had his three rivals in trouble some way out and galloped on powerfully to record a six-and-a-half length success over New London
For O’Brien it was a record-breaking tenth victory in the Chester Vase and he will now look to Epsom with his improving three-year-old, owned by Westerberg and the Coolmore partners.
Moore, riding a record eighth winner of the Group 3 prize, said: “He was very impressive today. Obviously, stepping up in trip suited him and you never know with these three-year- olds how much they’re going to improve as they go up in trip.
“He was obviously very impressive today and he beat a well-regarded colt. He’s only just beginning to come so we wouldn’t be sure what he’s going to be yet – but it’s a very good performance.”
