Roly Poly could head to the Breeders’ Cup after giving trainer Aidan O’Brien a 23rd Group One win this year with a typically gutsy performance in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
Taking her personal Group One tally in 2017 to three, Roly Poly would not give in and kept responding to Ryan Moore’s urgings to put O’Brien two short of the late Bobby Frankel’s world record of top level wins set in 2003.
Moore had Roly Poly (4-1) smartly out of the stalls and despite being unable to take the rail position which Dawn Of Hope occupied, was always in a good position.
Dawn Of Hope led briefly, but Roly Poly rallied and went ahead again and was able to hold off Persuasive (9-4 fav) by a length.
Nathra was another 1-1/4 lengths away third for Jimmy Fortune in his last ride before retirement.
“She’s a great filly, with a great heart. She’s tactical and tough, amazing really,” O’Brien said.
“I think so (Breeders’ Cup). The lads (Coolmore) will decide what they want to do, but her and Rhododendron could be trained for the Filly And Mare race if that’s what the lads want to do.”
O’Brien played down the record bid, saying the horses came frist.
“It would be incredible for everybody, but the horse always comes first,” he said.
“That’s the important thing. The horse always comes first.
“After every race, the lads sit down and have a chat among themselves and see what race they want to pick.
“It’s race to race, horse to horse. The horse always comes first and we’re doing our best in every race. It’s all we can do.”
