Scandinavia victors in the 1 ST army group
By Breanndán and Huallacháin
Hek O’Brien won the Group 1 Betfred St Army Stakes at Doncaster with ScandinaviaThe first handler has been since 1841 to win three victories in the race.
The Irish conditioner won the last two editions of the longest British classic of the season, more than one miles and six furlongs, with continuous in 2023 and Jan Brueghel last year.
The three victories in a row were previously achieved three times, by John Mangle between 1786 and 1788, by John Lonsdale between the years 1817-20, and twice by John Scott, respectively in 1827-29 and 1838-41.
Scandinavia, a son of Coolmore America father, justifies from a Galileo mare named Fabulous, was bred by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt, and carries the colors of the Coolmore Partners, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier. The three-year-old Veulen, who fell back in distance, was driven by Tom Marquand, husband of fellow jockey Hollie Doyle.
The winner, based in Ballydoyle, County Tipperary, only had a neck about second place, Rahbiebb, a news Park Stud-Foked son of Juddmonte’s Star Sire Frankel. The Colt, from the playful sound, a street cry, is trained in England by Roger Varan for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, and was driven in the Betfred St army by Irish Jockey Ray Dawson.
The now nine-time Betfred St Leger-winning handler, Aidan O’Brien, was also responsible for the third-placed finisher, Stay True, a Galileo son out of a Bahamian Bounty mare called Bounce, who crossed the finishing line a length behind the runner-up carrying the Westerberg colours as the colt Is co-owned with Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, and had the assistance of Mickel Barzalona in the saddle.
Speaking in Leopardstown in Ireland, when he had witnessed another stable stars, Delacroix, won the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the highlight of the two -day Irish Champions Festival, said Aidan O’Brien about Scandinavia, a half -brother to another group::
“He is Hardy and Tom (Marquand, Jockey) gave him a great ride. He stays very good, but we were a bit worried when the ground came on the softer side. He is a beautiful horse. He is a typical justification, he is very, very real. The better you see the ground, and I would say that there comes from him.”
A winner of the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy deployment of more than a mile and five furlongs in Newmarket, England, in July, Scandinavia achieved his first success at the highest level when taking the group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup deployment of two Mile at the end of July.
Scandinavia currently has an entry into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup on Flemington Racecourse in Australia for the first Tuesday in November. When asked if the foal would go down, O’Brien said:
“It is a possibility. He will have to go scanned and see if he is eligible or not, but there is a very good chance that the boys (the Coolmore Partners) may want to go down with him.”
For the winning rider, Tom Marquand, Scandinavia was his second success in the Betfred St Army, a race he first won in 2020 on board the son of Australia, Galileo Chrome.
The English rider was high in his praise for his willing partner, Scandinavia, and admitted:
“He has the most beautiful temperament. Speaking with Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and Wayne Lordan, the thing they all said was how simple he was. He is an extremely special horse and I am the privilege of being on board today. Today on board for Ballydoyle is something special. “
The victory was a second classic victory of the current season for Justify, which is a decent prevailing court, winner of the Betfred 2000 Guineas in Newmarket, England, early May. Unfortunately in August the ruling court of Godolphin was euthanized in August after complications of the hoof disease laminitis.
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