Queen out of luck as Treasure Beach plunders Irish Derby

Published on Sunday 26 June 2011 14:38

THE QUEEN'S search for a Derby winner continues after Carlton House was beaten into fourth behind Treasure Beach in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh, with Aidan O'Brien securing a ninth success in the race and pulling off a brilliant 1-2-3 ahead of the Royal runner.

Her Majesty has tasted victory in the Oaks, both Guineas and the St Leger, but a Derby victory continues to prove elusive. After winning the Dante Stakes at York, Sir Michael Stoute's Carlton House went to the Epsom Derby as a hot favourite, but a Royal winner was not to be as he could finish only third. Having suffered a setback in the week leading up to the world's most famous Flat race, better was expected in Ireland off the back of a clear run, but the result was much the same.

All appeared to be going to plan as Ryan Moore inched his mount closer rounding the turn for home, but the acceleration that had looked so potent over a mile and a quarter at York in May could not be applied over this longer distance.

Treasure Beach, one place ahead of Carlton House and beaten just a head by Pour Moi at Epsom, travelled kindly for Colm O'Donoghue and was also bang there turning for home.

The 7-2 chance was able to find another gear when it mattered to get the better of his strong-travelling stablemate Seville by three-quarters of a length, providing O'Donoghue with his first victory in the race.

The pacesetting Memphis Tennessee finished third to give O'Brien a remarkable one-two-three in the race. O'Brien, winning an incredible sixth consecutive Irish Derby, said: "Memphis Tennessee set a nice, even pace and it seemed to suit all the horses.

"Colm was excellent on Treasure Beach and settled him beautifully before producing him brilliantly.

"Treasure Beach has progressed with every run and he has a few options now - he could go for the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, the King George (Ascot), or else he could have a break before coming back for the second half of the season.

"We are very lucky in that his owners have decided to keep their horses in training as four-year-olds, and that gives us options with giving the three-year-olds breaks."

Of his placed runners, O'Brien added: "Seville threw us with his disappointing run at Epsom, but he returned to form and Seamie (Heffernan, jockey] said he'll come forward from today's run.

"He is a possible for the Grand Prix de Paris. Memphis Tennessee will probably have a break now and will probably run in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August."

Treasure Beach's success certainly represented a career highlight for O'Donoghue.He said: "I've been riding out at Ballydoyle since I was 15 and I'm very grateful to the owners for the opportunities.

"It's a feeling of relief more than anything else as I had been placed in the race a number of times.

"I was confident coming here as I learned more about the horse after Epsom.

"I won a French Guineas before but this means an awful lot to me."

John Warren, racing manager for the Queen, said Carlton House ran "flat" and is likely to be dropped in distance to a mile and a quarter.

William Hill cut Treasure Beach to 10-1 from 20-1 for the King George, while he is 4-1 (from 8-1) for the St Leger.

Totesport make the three-year-old a 16-1 chance for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.