O'Donoghue pleased with Royal Ascot pair Colm O'Donoghue was pleased with the performances of his mounts for trainer Jessica Harrington in two of the big juvenile races Royal Ascot, Brother Bear and Alpha Centauri, though both just fell short. Alpha Centauri went closest, going down by only a neck to French challenger Different League in the Albany Stakes as she lost her unbeaten record. "With the filly that's the first time she's ever had to race. I had to do all the donkey work myself in two maidens," said O'Donoghue. "It's just unfortunate, but she's a very good filly. I had plenty of room, but when we went down past the two-and-a-half he got a length on me and that made the difference. "She's a filly that will stay further and she just doesn't have that change of gear like the other filly had." O'Donoghue felt Brother Bear's inclination to veer to the left when in the lead in the Coventry Stakes cost him dear when fourth to Rajasinghe, beaten a head and two necks. "It was a shame for the two-year-old that he drifted left as he's only beaten a small margin," said the jockey. "It was a great week overall. We were under no illusions going to Ascot that you needed to step up again and they did step up."
