Sergei Diaghilev makes a winning start for O'Brien and Moore Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore teamed up to land the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden in the Curragh for the fourth year in succession, this time with 4/6 favourite Sergei Diaghilev. The Wootton Bassett colt was very well found in the market ahead of his debut over this six-furlong trip. He was sighted in a handy third at the halfway point as Dhikola and Switching Sides raced to the fore. Moore got busier in the saddle passing the '2' pole and his mount worked his way into a narrow lead over Switching Sides approaching the final furlong as Dhikola weakened. The favourite marginally increased his advantage over a game Switching Sides with 100 yards to travel and did enough to see the 12/1 runner-up off by half a length. Folsom Blues made late gains in third at 9/2, beaten just under three lengths by the victor. O'Brien said: “We’re delighted with him, he hadn’t done an awful lot of work. “He only stepped into main work in the last two weeks and he did a nice piece of work last Saturday. “We knew he’d be very green and there is probably a lot to come from him. It was a nice introduction for him. “All the horses that we are trying to get out now could be Ascot horses, but some of them will be too green and you’ll know when you run them if they won’t make it. “I’m not sure with him. We ran him because we thought he could be a Coventry horse, Ryan wasn’t sure if he was going to know enough in time. “Ryan said he’ll have no problem going seven. I’d imagine he’ll stick to six for the moment. He could improve so much. “The horse that Jack (Cleary) rode (fourth-placed South Dakota) could be a Chesham horse, but we’ll see what will happen after his run.” Paddy Power slashed Sergei Diaghilev from 50/1 to 10/1 for the Coventry. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
