O=Donoghue Rises to New Challenge Cont
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SUNDAY, 17 JUNE 2018 HEAD FOR HEIGHTS O=DONOGHUE RISES Freddy Head has yet to train the winner of Chantilly=s G1 Prix TO NEW CHALLENGE de Diane Longines, but it could be that is put right on Sunday when he saddles a formidable duo in With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). Both come here on the back of defeats, but their previous form entitles them to maximum respect in an open year. The former, a >TDN Rising Star=, captured the G3 Prix des Reservoirs for owner-breeder George Strawbridge at Deauville in October, while Highclere Thoroughbred Racing=s Luminate was no less impressive in the G3 Prix de Conde over nine furlongs here in the same month before taking the G3 Prix Penelope over this 10 1/2-furlong trip at Saint-Cloud on May 1. With You was denied a short head by Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on her comeback in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp on May 27, six days after Luminate was second before being demoted to fifth behind Castellar (Fr) (American Post {GB}) in the G3 Prix Cleopatre also at this Colm O=Donoghue jubilant aboard Alpha Centauri | Racing Post distance. Cont. p4 By Chris McGrath IN TDN AMERICA TODAY It was only when he removed himself from the comfort zone PAVEL WINS THE STEPHEN FOSTER H. that Colm O'Donoghue could discover quite how comfortably he Pavel (Creative Cause) won the GI Stephen Foster H. at operated in the sport's most challenging crucibles. He had been Churchill Downs Saturday evening. Click or tap here to go at Ballydoyle for two decades, literally since the day he left straight to TDN America. school. And if Europe's premier stable is scarcely lacking in intensity, the fact was that O'Donoghue--though amply qualified, in the view of many--was never going to experience either the benefits or burdens that go with appointment as its number one jockey. That had become still more obvious as a family genius for horsemanship was amplified in the maturing talents of Aidan O'Brien's sons, first Joseph and now Donnacha. And there was still Ryan Moore, of course; not to mention Seamie Heffernan, like O'Donoghue a longstanding Ballydoyle stalwart. O'Donoghue knew he had respect, knew he had affection. One morning last summer, however, he woke up and decided that it was now or never. He was 36, in his absolute prime as a jockey, and had a ton of experience at the highest level. But unless he did something about it, he was never going to discover the full span of his ability. And here he is, not even a year later, with a Classic winner leading a series of fancied mounts prepared for Royal Ascot by a very different trainer, if a no less remarkable one, in Jessica Harrington. Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 13 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 17 JUNE 2018 it wasn't a knee-jerk thing, it was on my mind for a while before I DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE ANY REGRETS, that morning when I just said to myself: 'Colm, it's time to go; time to make your own bed.'@ TO FINISH UP THINKING YOU HAD "Obviously there were going to be massive changes. Would YOUR CHANCE, YOU WEREN’T BRAVE you get the support? Would you ride a Classic winner again? Would you even ride in Classic races again? And it would be very ENOUGH, DIDN’T HAVE daunting for someone to walk away from that, if you haven't ENOUGH BELIEF. ridden Classic winners, Group 1 winners. Whereas I had already done it. I had to believe, if ever I had the opportunity again, that Colm O’Donoghue I could do it. So that's what pushed me: I believed that if I got that opportunity, I could get the job done." And, in almost no time, he found himself with the chance to prove as much--to Harrington, to the watching world, and to himself. Trainer and jockey together had assured the Niarchos O=Donoghue Rises To New Challenge Cont. from p1 family that Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) had a "Riding for her is very special for me because she gives me so better chance in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas last much confidence, and so much responsibility," O'Donoghue month than seemed apparent from her performance in heavy says. "And I believe if you give someone that responsibility, you ground on her reappearance. bring out the best in them." "We'd been telling the owners how well she'd been working, If things were different before, then O'Donoghue intends no so after the trial possibly there were question marks next to all slight on the man he served, happily and productively, for so our names," O'Donoghue grins. "But that had been a non-event: long. Even as best supporting actor, after all, he had won his she got very tired in the ground, after such a wet spring when "Oscars" in races like the 2011 Irish Derby on Treasure Beach we hadn't been able to get on the grass." (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) or the 2015 Oaks on Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Her Curragh success qualifies Alpha Centauri as one of the Rock {Aus}). favourites for the G1 Coronation S. on Friday. "If you watch the "Aidan was like my guardian, he was my example," he says. "I Guineas, I'm completely covered until we meet the junction," was there since I was 15, I think he was only 26 himself then- her rider reflects. "And then she had to put in a big run to go -and he hasn't changed an awful lot. But I woke up one morning and run down the other filly. That won't have done her any and said to myself: 'Right, time to go'. I didn't want to have any harm, because in her previous races she's always done the regrets, to finish up thinking you had your chance, you weren't donkey work. She would have learned plenty, and I think she'll brave enough, didn't have enough belief. Because I do believe in improve for the Guineas too." Cont. p3 myself. So I had to take a chance. It was something I had to do." O'Donoghue had already forged a part-time link with Harrington when Fran Berry left to ride in Britain. And the affinity they discovered was such that O'Donoghue was prepared to undergo a personal wrench to embrace professional opportunity. When he took O'Brien aside and told him, his boss thought O'Donoghue needed 24 hours to be sure he meant what he was saying. But the next day the script was unchanged. O'Brien wished him all the best, assured him he would always only be a phone call away. At Ballydoyle, however, you are either on the team or not; and O'Donoghue has had to make his own way this year, supported by Mick Halford and John Oxx besides Harrington. "I went to Ballydoyle for a weekend, was back the following week--and was there 21 years," he reflects. "So it's been incredible. I was so fortunate, the horses I got to ride and the experience I got working for Aidan, the way he does things and his attention to detail. And he embeds all that in you as well. But TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 13 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 17 JUNE 2018 O=Donoghue Rises To New Challenge Cont. The stable also has a leading candidate for the Gold Cup on Wednesday in Torcedor (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), fifth last year but plainly on a high judged on his five-length Group 3 success on the same track last month. "He's in great form and I think he'll run a big race," O'Donoghue says. "He obviously loves the track, and he felt his best ever in the Sagaro: he relaxed, he travelled, he moved superb, and when I asked him he really picked up and galloped right to the line." Vice President, International Operations Auspiciously, moreover, Harrington has a strong team of Gary King juveniles heading to the meeting. Indigo Balance (Ire) (Invincible Twitter: @garykingTDN Spirit {Ire}) goes to the G2 Coventry S. on Tuesday after an [email protected] impressive debut at The Curragh. "He's a lovely horse," + 1.732.320.0975 O'Donoghue says. "His barrier trial in Dundalk was obviously International Editor good for him, but he's always been quite sharp and we've just Kelsey Riley been keeping a lid on him if anything. I rode him to enjoy the Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN race and come out of it: if it happened, it happened. But if I'd set [email protected] him alight all the good work that'd been done at home would have been ruined." European Editor Meanwhile, the fillies Servalan (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Chicas Emma Berry Amigas (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), first and second in a listed race Twitter: @collingsberry at Naas, are both in the G3 Albany S. on Friday--albeit the [email protected] former has the option of dropping in trip for the G2 Queen Mary Associate International Editor S. on Wednesday. Heather Anderson For O'Donoghue's fresh start to have been vindicated this way Twitter: @HLAndersonTDN is no less than he deserves. Don't take my word for it, though I remember noticing him when he was not yet 20 and already Marketing Manager thinking he had the lot: balance, strength, style.