Da 2-årige Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) lørdag vandt Racing Post Trophy i Doncaster, fejrede irske Aidan O’Brien samtidig sin Gruppe-1-triumf nummer 26 i 2017. Dermed slog han legendariske Bobby Frankels rekord fra 2003.
Med sin sædvanlige, beherskede tone kunne O’Brien sende hyldesten videre til sin familie, hele teamet på Ballydoyle og selvfølgelig “the lads”: Coolmore-trekløveret Derek Smith, John Magnier og Michael Tabor.
Aidan O’Brien har flere gange tidligere været tæt på at nå Bobby Frankels rekord, men sæsonen har ofte vist sig at være et par Gruppe-1-løb for kort.
Denne gang behøver ireren dog ikke spejde over Atlanten til næste fredag og lørdags Breeders’ Cup på Del Mar i Californien for at vurdere, om han kan slå rekorden.
Den kom allerede i hus inden udgangen af oktober, og allerede søndag kan han udbygge rekorden yderligere.
Herunder ses Aidan O’Briens 26 Gruppe-1-vindere i 2017 (Kilde: Racing Post):
1 Churchill, 2,000 Guineas, Newmarket, May 6, Ryan Moore, 6-4f
2 Winter, 1,000 Guineas, Newmarket, May 7, Wayne Lordan, 9-1
3 Churchill, Irish 2,000 Guineas, Curragh, May 27, Ryan Moore, 4-9f
4 Winter, Irish 1,000 Guineas, Curragh, May 28, Ryan Moore, 8-13f
5 Highland Reel, Coronation Cup, Epsom, June 2, Ryan Moore, 9-4f
6 Wings Of Eagles, Derby, Epsom, June 3, Padraig Beggy, 40-1
7 Highland Reel, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ascot, June 21, Ryan Moore, 9-4
8 Caravaggio, Commonwealth Cup, Ascot, June 23, Ryan Moore, 5-6f
9 Winter, Coronation Stakes, Ascot, June 23, Ryan Moore, 4-9f
10 Capri, Irish Derby, Curragh, July 1, Seamie Heffernan, 6-1
11 Roly Poly, Falmouth Stakes, Newmarket, July 14, Ryan Moore, 6-4f
12 Roly Poly, Prix Rothschild, Deauville, July 30, Ryan Moore, 16-5
13 Winter, Nassau Stakes, Goodwood, August 3, Ryan Moore, 10-11f
14 Sioux Nation, Phoenix Stakes, Curragh, August 13, Ryan Moore, 2-1
15 Hydrangea, Matron Stakes, Leopardstown, September 9, Wayne Lordan, 20-1
16 Happily, Moyglare Stud Stakes, Curragh, September 10, Donnacha O’Brien, 13-2
17 Order Of St George, Irish St Leger, Curragh, September 10, Ryan Moore, 2-5f
18 Capri, St Leger, Doncaster, September 16, Ryan Moore, 3-1f
19 Clemmie, Cheveley Park Stakes, Newmarket, September 30, Ryan Moore, 15-8f
20 US Navy Flag, Middle Park Stakes, Newmarket, September 30, Seamie Heffernan, 10-1
21 Happily, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Chantilly, October 1, Ryan Moore, 7-5f
22 Rhododendron, Prix de l’Opera, Chantilly, October 1, Seamie Heffernan, 92-10
23 Roly Poly, Sun Chariot Stakes, Newmarket, October 7, Ryan Moore, 4-1
24 US Navy Flag, Dewhurst Stakes, Newmarket, October 14, Ryan Moore, 5-1
25 Hydrangea, Fillies & Mares Stakes, Ascot, October 21, Ryan Moore, 4-1
26 Saxon Warrior, Racing Post Trophy, Doncaster, October 28, Ryan Moore, 13-8f