Henri Matisse boosted Aidan O’Brien’s Classic racing potential by giving the trainer a remarkable 17th success in the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
Not surprisingly, the Ballydoyle trainer has dominated this Group Two contest for the past 30 years. His numerous Futurity winners include Giant’s Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001), Gleneagles (2014), Churchill (2016) and last year’s winner Henry Longfellow.
Having won his first two races at this track, including a narrow victory in the Railway Stakes in late June, Henri Matisse was the 5/6 favourite to complete his hat-trick under jockey Ryan Moore and quickly broke the gas to beat Hotazhell by a length on his first appearance over seven furlongs.
Paddy Power reduced the Wootton Bassett colt’s odds for next year’s 2,000 Guineas from 12-1 to 10-1, making him second favourite behind his stablemate The Lion In Winter, who won the Acomb Stakes and started at 7-1.
“I’m very happy with him. He’s lazy and he’s getting faster,” O’Brien said. “He did that over six and if he can do it over seven, you’d be really excited. He’s got that agility.”
“He swerved when he got there. He’s inexperienced and obviously a baby. The plan is to run in the National Stakes.”
Perhaps lacking the fireworks of some of her previous starts, Bedtime Story ultimately defended her unbeaten record with a hard-fought victory in the Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.
O’Brien’s mare, a daughter of Frankel and dual Nunthorpe heroine Mecca’s Angel, made a successful debut at Leopardstown in June before producing a brilliant performance to win the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot by nine and a half lengths.
Having now completed her hat-trick with a comfortable win in the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown, Bedtime Story was the 1-16 favourite to claim her fourth win in four in a race her trainer had previously won 13 times, but it was a tougher challenge than most would have expected.
Moore’s horse was still in third place after crossing the furlong, with her stablemate Exactly and Jessica Harrington’s Barnavara in her sights.
Moore had to use his whip to ensure Bedtime Story could bridge the gap, but she got rolling and was half a length ahead of Exactly at the finish line, with Barnavara a neck behind in third.
O’Brien said: “We didn’t want to go too fast today as it was a preparation for the next day. She is very fast from the start and Ryan was nice to her as we didn’t want to overwhelm her today.
“She had to come down and race a little later but we really couldn’t be happier. She will now go for the Moyglare.”
Bedtime Story is the unchanged favourite for next year’s 1,000 Guineas at Coral with a record of 3-1 and is also the market leader at 5-1 for the Oaks.
