Racing: Coliseum defeat a blow for O'Brien

A FUNNY thing happened to Coliseum yesterday. The 4-7 shot lost the National Stakes at the Curragh and continued an unusually disturbing weekend for Aidan O'Brien.

The master of Ballydoyle - or just the plain master to many in Ireland - had witnessed Stravinsky providing the first note of discord in the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp on Saturday.

Coliseum was supposed to be the ultimate gladiator back on home territory yesterday, but he could not reel in the front-running Mus-If. Dermot Weld's colt was, ironically, ridden by Michael Kinane, who had been banned for his swerving effort on Stravinsky 24 hours earlier. His colt finished second to Aljabr, in the race proper, but then was placed last after stewards had scrutinised film of the race.

"I am very pleased with Mus-If," Weld said. "It was the right tactics to use and he loves cut in the ground. I remember my late father, Charlie, telling me he did with Decies in 1969, in this very race, what we achieved here.

"He said that if you have a very fit and experienced horse, put it up to the others."

Stravinsky may attempt another score this year following his French failure. "We'll wait and see before deciding if he runs again this season," O'Brien said yesterday. "He was never happy on the ground. It took the speed away from him."

Bookmakers took the view that all was not lost for the Nureyev colt, William Hill easing Stravinsky out to 6-1 (from 4-1) for next year's 2,000 Guineas, with Aljabr coming in to 7-1 (from 12-1).

Continuing his letter from Ballydoyle, O'Brien added that Second Empire, his much-vaunted two-year-old of 1997, could attempt to redeem his reputation in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot this Saturday. Last time, like his teammate on Saturday, Second Empire failed to justify his billing at Longchamp. "He showed in France that he simply doesn't like it soft," O'Brien said. "He'll work on Tuesday and we'll decide after that whether he is going to Ascot."

After eight years with a licence, Mick Channon is finally beginning to convince the doubting masses that there is more to him than a wardrobe full of England caps and a savage limp. Channon may not have been to the right seats of academia but is a serious graduate from the school of life if his two-year-old results this year are any instruction.

The Lambourn trainer has already produced before us the sparkling Bint Allayl, winner of the Queen Mary and Lowther Stakes, as well as Josr Algarhoud, the Gimcrack victor who is almost as difficult to beat as he is to pronounce. Following Saturday's machinations at Newbury, there is another to consider in their breath.

Golden Silca may not be the most brilliant filly in training, but when courage was being handed out she emptied the barrel and told the rest of the queue to go home. The Mill Reef Stakes winner may now be supplemented for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket a week tomorrow. "It will depend on the ground," Channon said yesterday.