O'Connor lands Group One

O'Brien juvenile rules in France

Last updated: 31st October 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Roderic O Connor Curragh

Roderic O'Connor: Group One winner in France

Related links

Also see

Profiles

Roderic O'Connor stepped up significantly on his maiden form when chasing home Frankel in the Dewhurst and he paid Henry Cecil's colt a huge compliment when readily winning the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Roderic O'Connor had to play second fiddle in the market to the unbeaten French Navy but Maxime Guyon struggled to get Andre Fabre's unbeaten colt settled and he endured a horrid passage in the early stages and was shuffled back through the pack.

Johnny Murtagh, on the other hand, made smooth progress to hold a prominent position on the outside of the early leaders and was perfectly placed to quicken the pace as they went for home.

French Navy loomed up briefly but his early exertions took their toll as Roderic O'Connor quickly opened a gap. He actually proved the biggest danger to himself as he threatened to throw the race away by hanging badly right allowing Salto to close.

Murtagh soon had him back on an even keel with a running rail to help and he rallied to win a shade cosily frmo Salto with outsider Maiguri finishing strongly to deny the Barry Hills-trained Rerouted a place.

William Hills were sufficiently impressed to shorten his 2,000 Guineas odds to 10-1.