St. Mark’s Basilica hits O’Brien in Dewhurst

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Aidan O’Brien dominated the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, with a 10-1 shot to St. Mark’s Basilica and Frankie Dettori contained his stablemate Wembley (15-2) and Ryan Moore.

Ballydoyle’s pair had finished behind Thunder Moon (11-4F) in the National Stakes at the Curragh last time, but this time the form changed as Joseph O’Brien’s colt could only handle third.

The protagonists descended through the center of the track, while several of the other fantasy runners ran towards the railing, which had been the favorite in previous races.

It was a seventh Dewhurst for O’Brien, while it was a second in three years for Dettori after Too Darn Hot in 2018.

In a race traditionally seen as the junior championship with countless champions produced over the years, this season’s field looked good.

Richard Hannon lined up two undefeated contenders at Chindit and Etonian, while Marcus Tregoning had complemented Mill Reef winner Alkumait.

Neither of them were able to get involved, however, with the result in stark contrast to O’Brien’s fate on Friday, when it emerged that his two runners on the Fillies’ Mile had worn the wrong garrisons and were ridden by the wrong riders.

O’Brien was also forced to recall all of his runners at Longchamp on arc day last weekend due to issues related to tainted feeding.

O’Brien said: “We are delighted with both.

“The plan was for St Mark’s Basilica to work in France and then Wembley in Dewhurst, that’s how we were going.

“We always really liked St. Mark’s Basilica, and Wembley, we always thought they were very smart colts.

“The top three were the same three as in the National Stakes. Every year is a great race and the form is always maintained.”

On future plans, O’Brien added: “The Breeders ‘Cup is possible for the winner, but we believe that Battleground will go to the Breeders’ Cup, so they don’t have to go.”



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