O'Brien ends long wait for Papin success as Blackbeard leads home stable 1-2

Sunday: Chantilly

A colt christened after a pirate with such a fearsome reputation that he often induced surrender without the need to fire a shot, the equine Blackbeard produced a dominant display worthy of his seafaring namesake when leading home a stable 1-2 for Aidan O'Brien in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin.

Despite once again showing a few immature signs in the parade ring and at the start, the son of No Nay Never was all business after the stalls opened and, once Coolmore's favourite French talisman Ioritz Mendizabal gave him his head just after halfway, the race was effectively over as a contest.

Stablemate The Antarctic came out of the pack to give vain chase, but he was still three lengths adrift at the line, while Vicious Harry languished the same distance again back in third.

Paddy Power reacted by cutting Blackbeard to 25-1 (from 40) for next season's 2,000 Guineas, the same price as Coral.

"We're delighted with Blackbeard," said Aidan O'Brien, who watched on from the Curragh as he landed a second win in the Papin, 23 years on from his success with Rossini.

"He was a baby all the way along and, even though he was still babyish today, Ioritz was very impressed with him. He said that he was professional and won easily. With every run he's getting there – he's definitely progressing."

Having secured Group 3 success in the Anglesey Stakes with Little Big Bear on Saturday, O'Brien clearly has some very speedy two-year-olds to juggle ahead of the first juvenile Group 1s of the year next month, the Phoenix Stakes and the Prix Morny.

"We were just trying to split them up and that's why he went to France," said O'Brien. "He could come back to the Curragh for the Phoenix Stakes, which is also an option for Little Big Bear. We were very happy with The Antarctic too. He's coming as well but probably isn't really there yet. He's still progressing."

The success marked a dominant return to the contest for O'Brien, who last fielded runners in the Papin in 2003 and struck on his only other attempt with Rossini in 1999.

It was also another significant success for Mendizabal in the Coolmore silks as he won the Prix de Diane aboard Joan Of Arc and French 2,000 Guineas and Prix du Jockey Club on St Mark's Basilica last year.

Wally may join Rouget's Irish Champions Weekend squad

Wally was made a well-backed favourite for the Group 3 Prix Messidor on his first start since chasing home Dreamloper in the Prix d'Ispahan and, while his supporters were made to sweat, the popular grey son of Siyouni pulled out a bit extra in the final 50 yards to deny Longvillers and Axdavali.

Winning connections with Wally after the grey's success in the Prix MessidorCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

"He knows where the post is, but it wasn't an ideal scenario today with no pace," said trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. "He was obliged to take the lead at the two-furlong post and that's too early for him. He ended up waiting for the others and then kicking again.

"He can go a mile and a quarter too so he could go to the Gontaut-Biron [at Deauville] and after that he could go with Vadeni to Ireland and run in the Group 2 over a mile [the Boomerang Stakes], that might be interesting for him."

Stephane Pasquier put a final bow on a memorable week when stepping in for the suspended Christophe Soumillon for an all-the-way success aboard Tariyana in the Group 3 Prix Chloe.

The win came three days after Pasquier's Grand Prix de Paris victory with Onesto.

Chantilly results

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