River Tiber rockets to most impressive Navan win
Aidan O’Brien’s River Tiber was introduced into the Coventry Stakes betting in the wake of a sparkling debut in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden at Navan.
The Wootton Bassett colt was expected to oblige and was sent off the 5-6 favourite, but even so connections will have been delighted with what they witnessed.
Ryan Moore waited until just over a furlong out before pressing the button and the result was impressive.
River Tiber – who cost 480,000 guineas – streaked to a 10-length victory over Zona Verde with Betfair going 8-1 for the Ascot contest.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “A lovely introduction, he was very impressive. His work has been strong at home and it is great he brought the same to the track.
Whooooooosh! 🚀
River Tiber (Wootton Bassett) storms clear in the closing stages to make a most taking winning debut @NavanRacecourse under Ryan Moore.
He looks good! 🏇 pic.twitter.com/8pq8GofEVf
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 22, 2023
“He’s a lovely horse and you love everything about him – athletic, physical and a good mind.
“He’s one that could go to the winners’ race in Naas or maybe something like the Marble Hill at the Curragh, and then hopefully on to Ascot. Something like the Coventry.
“He’s very exciting and another nice horse hopefully for Wootton Bassett.”
He went on: “It is unfortunate the rain coming today, but Navan is a lovely track to start them. Aidan has brought a lot of good horses here before – we start them here and they have always progressed plenty from it. It is a lovely track and always well presented.
“I suppose his class got him through (the ground), he travelled very strongly and when Ryan asked him to lengthen and pick up, the response was there immediately.
“He has plenty of class and is a lovely horse to look forward to. He has got plenty of speed and travels.”
Jessica Harrington enjoyed a Listed-race double, with Ocean Quest (10-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes and Village Voice (7-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.
Of Ocean Quest, Harrington’s daughter, Kate, said: “She was going to the Cheveley Park last year and pulled a muscle the week before, so we put her away for the rest of the season.
“We knew she was good last year – she won the first two-year-old race of the season and we bided our time with her and let her strengthen up.
“Her owners have been rewarded with waiting with her, I thought she looked a picture in the paddock beforehand.
“She’ll go to the Commonwealth Cup, that’s what mum said on the phone! Obviously, mum will have a chat with the owners and everything, but it looks like the likely aim at the moment.
“The form of her Ballyhane run (in third at Naas) is top-notch.”
It was not long before Village Song followed up, with Harrington adding: “I’d imagine we will go Ribblesdale now.
“It has been a good day and a great tonic for mum. I think it is the quote of the year – I rang her coming in here and she said ‘why are you ringing me? They are about to go into the stalls!’. I told her the race had finished and she obviously pressed pause and didn’t fast forward it again!
“I told her Village Voice won and Foniska was third and she said ‘oh, brilliant!’.”
