3 minute read

Both Joseph and Aidan O’Brien tasted Group 1 glory at Saint Cloud on Sunday, with Tennessee Stud and Twain.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Tennessee Stud faced only two other rivals in the ten-furlong Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. The son of Wootton Bassett held solid credentials for Group 1 success, having finished a close second behind subsequent Group 1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell in the mile Group 2 Beresford Stakes. The colt, ridden by Declan Browne McMonagle, appeared to relish the step up in distance and cruised throughout the race before hitting the front with less than a furlong to run. Charlie Johnston's Green Storm finished one-and-a-half lengths back in second.

It was another son of Wootton Bassett that tasted success in the mile Group 1 Criterium International, with the impressive Twain recording another Group 1 victory for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

The colt was an easy victor of a Leopardstown maiden on debut and was supplemented for the Saint-Cloud race, joining stablemate Mount Kilimanjaro. The unbeaten French colt Maranoa Charlie attempted to make all for trainer Christopher Head, but Twain made headway under jockey Ryan Moore with two-furlongs to run, registering a one-and-a-quarter length victory over Mount Kilimanjaro.

In an interview with Sky Sports Racing, O'Brien said: "He only ran eight days ago, but we always thought he was highly rated. We ran him last week just in case what happened could happen, so we had to give him a chance as we knew there was only one Group One left and we saw there what he did.

"He's obviously a very good horse and Ryan (Moore, jockey) said he was very green. Ryan said he jumped very smart and then he just let the lads lead him and he went to sleep. He just ended up getting there too early on him and was very green when he got there.

"He's a Wootton Bassett once again out of a very good Montjeu mare – Wading was a very good mare herself. We're delighted and well done to the lads for doing it. It was a bit call from them to do it (supplement) with a horse only winning a few days ago.

"He's a very good mover and points his toe – he hasn't got a rounded grabby action and if you see him he has a low action. He obviously has a big engine, but's he's still a baby and I was watching him going to the start with Ryan and he was ducking at the cones and I thought maybe this is too much for him.

"There's only one Criterium, there was only one race left and it was great to have him here to run."

Paddy Power introduced Twain to the 2000 Guineas market at 14/1.