O’Brien error lets in Dettori and Rewilding
So You Think defeat down to me, says trainer
Nine-day suspension sours Dettori’s victory
FORMER Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien accepted the blame for So You Think’s shock defeat at Royal Ascot at the hands of Rewilding in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
The multiple Group One winner was sent off as the 4-11 favourite and looked set to justify those odds having been sent clear by Ryan Moore, but was ground down by Frankie Dettori’s mount, who won by a neck, only for the jockey to incur a nine-day ban for excessive use of the whip.
O’Brien said: “I will take responsibility for this personally. After he won his first two races so easily I had gone easy on him.
“It was a big step up on his last two races. He ran keen for the first two furlongs with Ryan and it was a strong-run race. He went and won his race but just got very tired in the last half a furlong.
“I think it was trainer error, I didn’t have him fit enough for this kind of race and he’s given a good blow afterwards. I would think there’s improvement to come.”
While O’Brien goes back to the drawing board with the Australian import, victory marked a landmark success for Rewilding on his first start since winning the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.
“That was probably the best fight I’ve been in for a while – the two horses wanted to win and they are two great champions,” said Dettori, whose excitement was later tempered as the stewards ruled he had hit Rewilding 24 times inside the final two furlongs and banned him for nine days.
“My fellow has not had the credit and he showed what he’s made of.
“He showed what a fighter he is. I’ve only got three days here this year (due to suspension) and the Prince of Wales’s is one of the great races of the year. To win again is a thrill.”
Meanwhile, Walter Swinburn’s Julienas won the Royal Hunt Cup in fine fashion, while Richard Hannon’s Best Terms held off Shumoos in the Queen Mary Stakes.