Aidan O’Brien recorded a hat-trick of wins in this between 2018/20 and Adelaide River finished well ahead of stablemate Peking Opera when second in the Irish Derby without looking like catching the winner Auguste Rodin. Soul Sister won the Oaks in good style on the fast ground at Epsom but today’s going is a worry as she takes on the colts while First Minister has been brought quietly along by Andre Fabre and beat FEED THE FLAME here earlier. The latter was subsequently supplemented for French Derby and ran well for fourth ahead of Winter Pudding but with the return to soft ground and this extra distance likely to suit Pascal Bary’s charge, he gets the vote. Rubis Vendome beat Silawi in a Group 3 at Chantilly last month and steps up in class.
Feed The Flame 3-1 (9-3) 4th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Ace Impact (9-3) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Jun.
Rubis Vendome 28-1 (9-3) won at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 3 stks gs in Jun beating Silawi (9-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Winter Pudding (FR) 66-1 (9-3) last of 11, 36l behind Ace Impact (9-3) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Jun.
Adelaide River (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Led, niggled along and headed 2 1/2f out, pushed along and pressed winner over 1f out, ridden 1f out, kept on well in 2nd final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Auguste Rodin (9-2) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Peking Opera (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) In rear, pushed along in moderate 7th 3f out, soon ridden, moderate 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening in 4th close home, 4th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Auguste Rodin (9-2) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
First Minister (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) won at ParisLongchamp 1m 3f Grp 3 stks gd in May beating Harry Way (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Silawi (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Rubis Vendome (9-3) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 3 stks gs in Jun.
Soul Sister (IRE) 11-4 (9-2) Wore hood to post, raced keenly out wide with no cover, soon steadied towards rear, smooth headway out wide over 3f out, ridden into narrow lead over 1f out, quickened clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gf in Jun beating Savethelastdance (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
