O'Brien Achieves Historic Milestone

Sunday’s feature race meeting at Chantilly provided Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien with a unique record. Following the running of the Gr1 Prix de Diane (2100m), the equivalent of the French Oaks, O’Brien was able to tick the last remaining European Classic box in what has been a remarkable career. He can now lay claim to having trained the winner of every single English, Irish and French Classic winner. Adding to the gravitas of such a significant milestone was which filly finally sealed the deal. By Galileo – who else? – Joan of Arc is a pedigree purist’s dream. She is a daughter of blue hen You’resothrilling (Storm Cat), a dual Group-winning full-sister to champion Giant’s Causeway. Her record at stud almost defies description. From seven foals to race, all by Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), every single one of them has either won or placed at Group 1 level. They include, in order of birth, Marvellous, Gleneagles, Coolmore, Taj Mahal, Happily, Vatican City and Joan of Arc. With another Galileo filly to follow from 2019, O’Brien’s latest Coolmore-bred and owned Classic heroine adds another potential Ballydoyle 3YO into 4 October’s Gr1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe picture, one that includes breath-taking Gr1 Cazoo Oaks winner Snowfall (Deep Impact).