Classic shake-up: Sir Dragonet and Medaayih explode into the Epsom picture at Chester
The pair have been smashed up for Derby and Oaks, but both will need to be supplemented
THERE were some real springers in the betting for the Derby and the Oaks at Chester last week.
Both Sir Dragonet and Mehdaayih won doing handstands in their respective trials for the Epsom Classics.
Aidan O'Brien has dominated the Chester Vase in recent years, winning the Group 3 eight times since 2007.
And few will have been as impressive as his ninth winner Sir Dragonet, a colt bred in the purple who only made his debut 13 days ago.
The son of Camelot cruised around the field and sprouted wings at the top of the straight, breezing clear under a motionless Donnacha O'Brien.
His 104-rated stablemate Norway was made to look like a carthorse in second place, and the colt is now a general 6-1 for the Derby. It will cost £85,000 to supplement him, but that's loose change to the Coolmore boys.
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Donnacha O'Brien said: "He was still quite raw and green so I let him follow them along for the first two furlongs, but they went a good pace up front and I could tell three or four out I was going to win.
"It was a case of not getting there too early. There was a big engine in there once you asked him.
"He has never shown a lot at home and some of these well-bred horses learn to go to sleep at home, but he obviously saves it for the track.
"He has a great pedigree by Camelot and he looks to be an exciting sire. He is one to look forward to. "
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Earlier on the card, Mehdaayih did her best impression of an Exocet missile in winning the Cheshire Oaks.
She came into the Listed race off the back of an easy win in a two-runner race on the all-weather at Chelmsford, but clock-watchers were convinced she was something special.
And God did she prove the sectional-timing fanboys right under Rab Havlin, navigating her way out of a tricky position on the inside rail before blasting clear in the straight.
Her owners will need to cough up £30,000 to supplement her for the Oaks, but that would appear a no-brainer. She is a top-price 6-1 for a very deep-looking Oaks.
Classic contenders... yay or nay?
Sir Dragonet
Pros: Only made his debut 13 days ago, so produce a performance of this magnitude is a serious statement of intent. Bred to be special and settled well in the early stages here.
Cons: He hits the ground pretty hard so fast ground would be a worry, while this race rather fell apart around him.
Mehdaayih
Pros: Broke several clocks when winning at Chelmsford on her previous start and she showed both tactical and raw speed to overcome a tricky position to blow her rivals away here. This looked a solid-enough renewal of the Cheshire Oaks.
Cons: She showed signs of greenness in the closing stages and rolled towards the far rail. This year's Oaks is shaping up to be a very strong renewal, so her trainer will have to iron out her kinks.
Havlin said: "She was a little bit sluggish away. I had it in my mind I didn't want to be down the inside as I knew there were a couple of fillies rated in the 70s there and at some point they would stop and come back.
"She had enough turn of foot to get out before the two pole. She surprised me how she picked up. She loved the ground.
"Whether we go for the Ribblesdale or the Oaks, I will leave that to the boss. She showed a really good change of gear there. The last half-furlong she started to wander left, but I think she had a bit left up her sleeve."