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| Staff Writer |
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Henry Longfellow emerged as the triumphant winner of the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. The absence of his stablemate, City Of Troy, made the task easier for him.
City Of Troy was the long-time market leader and antepost favourite for next year's Derby. However, it was declared a non-runner at the Curragh just two hours before the off due to the ground being changed to 'good to yielding' from 'good, good to firm in places' following some heavy showers.
Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien's number one jockey, partnered with Henry Longfellow in the absence of City Of Troy, and the eventual 10/11 favourite didn't disappoint. The son of Dubawi has maintained an unbeaten record in his career, with all the three runs at the Curragh. He comfortably took the step up to Group one level following a two-length defeat of Islandsinthestream in the Futurity Stakes.
Islandsinthestream, trained by Joseph O'Brien, came second yet again, five lengths behind, while Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes champion, Bucanero Fuerte, failed to impress as an even money chance and finished in third place. Adrian Murray's Cuban Thunder led the early running but ended up last of the four runners, while Jessica Harrington's Givemethebeatboys was the other non-runner on the day.
O'Brien said, "The pedigree of this horse is second to absolutely none. By Dubawi out of the best mare we've ever trained, Minding.
"What he has different is that he quickens. He travels and quickens, which is very hard for other horses to deal with."
On taking City Of Troy out of the race at the 11th hour, the trainer added: "City Of Troy ran in ground similar to this, maybe not quite as bad, at Newmarket, but he had a long time since he ran and we just felt he was going to improve from the run. And sometimes in that soft ground horses who are going to improve for the run, win lose or draw, they can have a very hard time.
"We knew this horse Henry Longfellow ran just a couple of weeks ago and his dam handled the ground no problem, and he had run in it as well. Everyone had been very happy with him and he looks a very special horse.
"City Of Troy only ever pleases in every way but we said we wouldn't run him on soft ground and we had to be true to our word."