SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) FACTFILE - TODAY'S JUDDMONTE CORONATION CUP WINNER

Form: 212/115115-1
Owner: Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien IRE
Breeder: Jim Bolger
Jockey: Johnny Murtagh

Soldier Of Fortune

Bred by trainer Jim Bolger, Soldier Of Fortune is a brother to Group Three winner Heliostatic and is trained by Bolger's former assistant Aidan O'Brien. He was beaten a short-head by the Bolger-trained La Conquistadora on his debut in a Gowran Park maiden in October, 2006. He beat Mores Wells by a length and a quarter next time out at Navan and rounded off his juvenile campaign when three quarters of a length second to Passage Of Time in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Soldier Of Fortune's three-year-old season got off to the perfect start with victory in the Group Two Prix Noailles at Longchamp on April 8, 2007 and he followed up with a short-head victory over Arabian Gulf in the Group Three Chester Vase the following month. The Galileo colt was a 14/1 shot for the Vodafone Derby at Ep(som Downs on his next start when, ridden by Wayne Lordan, he ran a race of promise in finishing fifth behind Authorized. That said, few would have expected the colt to demolish the field as he did next time out in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on July 1. Racing on very soft going, Soldier Of Fortune surged clear of his rivals in the final quarter-mile to record a nine-length success over Alexander Of Hales with Vodafone Derby third Eagle Mountain a short-head back. Given a summer break, the colt returned to action in the Group Two Prix Niel at Longchamp on September 16 and handed a length and a half beating to subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third Sagara. His latest outing came in the Arc itself on October 7. Sent to the lead at the top of the straight by Johnny Murtagh, he was unable to press home his advantage, finishing just over two lengths fifth to stablemate Dylan Thomas. He started the current campaign brilliantly, with a three-quarter length victory over stablemate Macarthur in the Juddmonte Coronation Cup.

Race Record: Starts: 10; 1st: 6; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 0; Win & Place Prize Money: £920,475

Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith

Few in the racing world can boast better connections than Sue Magnier. Her husband John is the most powerful man in the bloodstock world as owner of the global Coolmore breeding empire and she is daughter of arguably the greatest 20th century trainer, Vincent O'Brien (the guest of honour at the 2008 Derby Festival), who saddled three consecutive Grand National winners and six Derby winners. Her brother David O'Brien is another Derby-winning handler while another brother, Charles, is also a successful trainer. In the 1970s John Magnier (born February 10, 1948), the son of a Co Cork dairy farmer and stud owner, teamed up with the late Robert Sangster and trainer Vincent O'Brien with the idea of buying potential stallions as yearlings. This they did with great success, counting Alleged, Be My Guest, Caerleon, El Gran Senor, Golden Fleece, Sadler's Wells and Storm Bird amongst those who were bought or bred. Magnier subsequently bought out his partners at Coolmore - which now has huge offshoots in Australia and America - and owns the nearby magnificent Ballydoyle training stable. He has a myriad of other business interests, mainly with top jump owner J P McManus and the duo held a 28.7% stake in Manchester United FC, which they sold to American tycoon Malcolm Glazer. The pair have also invested in the Barchester chain of nursing homes, Castlebeck care homes, a property company that owns Unilever House in London, leisure clubs, including the Chelsea Harbour Club, the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados and Global Radio, the media company run by Michael Tabor's son Ashley. Magnier's fortune is estimated at £746 million in the 2008 Sunday Times Rich List. London-born and Monaco-based Michael Tabor, who founded the Arthur Prince bookmaking firm before selling it for £28 million in 1995, is a partner in many of the Coolmore horses. Like Magnier, Tabor spends much of the winter in Barbados and became a partner in many of the Coolmore horses in the mid 1990s after his Thunder Gulch won the 1995 Kentucky Derby. Tabor is valued at £620 million in the Sunday Times Rich List and his colt Entrepreneur, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, took the 1997 2,000 Guineas to provide a first British Classic success for the Sue Magnier/Tabor partnership, who also won that season's Irish equivalent and Irish Derby with Desert King. The duo won the Epsom Derby in 2001 and 2002 with Galileo and High Chaparral. In partnership with Sir Alex Ferguson, Magnier owned Rock Of Gibraltar, who won seven successive Group One victories including the 2002 2,000 Guineas. Other major wins include the 1998 2,000 Guineas with King Of Kings, the 1999 French Derby, Irish Derby, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the 2000 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Montjeu and a run of five consecutive Group One successes in 2000 from Giant's Causeway. Galileo also won the Irish Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes after his 2001 Epsom win, while further British Classic glory has come in the St Leger with Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005). High Chaparral, who went on to take the 2002 Irish Derby, also landed that year's Breeders' Cup Turf and then dead-heated in the same event 12 months later. In 2004, Derrick Smith, a former Ladbrokes trading director based in Barbados, joined Tabor as a Coolmore investor. Smith is valued at £750 million in the Sunday Times Rich List and his own colours have been carried to Group One success aboard Simply Perfect, Astronomer Royal and Mount Nelson. The Magnier/Tabor/Smith partnership retained Kieren Fallon as its jockey from February, 2005, although - with Fallon banned from riding - Johnny Murtagh took on that role this season. In 2005, Coolmore won both the 2,000 Guineas with Footstepsinthesand and the 1,000 Guineas with Virginia Waters, while Hurricane Run took the Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. George Washington, winner of the 2000 Guineas in 2006, was the star of the show that year, while Alexandrova took the Oaks at Epsom. Last year, the Coolmore empire's successes include the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Dylan Thomas, the Irish Derby with Soldier Of Fortune, the Irish Oaks, Nassau Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks with Peeping Fawn and the French 2,000 Guineas with Astronomer Royal. In the US, the Coolmore-owned Rags To Riches became the first filly for 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes. This season's highlights so far have come with Henrythenavigator's English and Irish 2,000 Guineas victories, the dual Group One scorer Duke Of Marmalade and a 1-2 with Soldier Of Fortune and Macarthur in today's Juddmonte Coronation Cup.

Juddmonte Coronations Cup Wins: 2005 Yeats (Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle); 2007 Scorpion (Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor); 2008 Soldier Of Fortune

Aidan O'Brien IRE

Born in Wexford on October 16, 1969, Aidan Patrick O'Brien has been phenomenally successful in his relatively short training career. After a spell with Jim Bolger, he became assistant to his now wife, Anne-Marie, and her father Joe Crowley, before taking over the reins when granted a licence to train himself in 1993. His impact on the Flat was made with backing of the highest calibre in the shape of John Magnier and Coolmore, who offered O'Brien the use of Ballydoyle Stables, where the trainer's namesake, legendary Irish handler Vincent O'Brien (no relation), had enjoyed so much success. In 1997, in only his third season at the helm of the Tipperary yard, he confirmed his intentions on the Flat when winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby. The following year, his first British Classic runner, King Of Kings, won the 2,000 Guineas and the second, Shahtoush, finished runner-up in the following day's 1,000 Guineas and went on to land the Epsom Oaks a month later. The successes have since flowed thanks to the likes of Giant's Causeway (five successive Group Ones in 2000), Saffron Walden, Stravinsky, Fasliyev and an embarrassment of riches in 2001 that yielded 23 Group One successes headed by the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, as well as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with Galileo. Other Classic glory came via Imagine (Irish 1,000 Guineas and Juddmonte Oaks), Black Minnaloushe (Irish 2,000 Guineas), Rose Gypsy (French 1,000 Guineas) and Milan (St Leger) while Mozart became champion sprinter and O'Brien totally dominated the two-year-old division as Johannesburg provided him with a first Breeders' Cup success in the 2001 Juvenile at Belmont Park. He was champion trainer in both Britain and Ireland in 2001 and 2002. In 2002 he enjoyed success with the remarkable Rock Of Gibraltar (the only horse to win seven European Group Ones in a row including the 2000 Guineas) and also the dual Derby and Breeders' Cup winner High Chaparral. His prowess on the Flat is matched by his achievements with his jumpers. He will forever be associated with Istabraq, winner of three Champion Hurdles. Rock Of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing gave O'Brien a 1-2 in the 2002 2,000 Guineas while High Chaparral and Hawk Wing provided him with the first and second in the 2002 Epsom Derby. The following season he sent out Yesterday to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Brian Boru triumphed at Doncaster in the Ladbrokes St Leger. O'Brien enjoyed further success with Hawk Wing in the Lockinge Stakes and High Chaparral in the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf in 2003. It was an indifferent season for the Ballydoyle team in 2004, but O'Brien was still successful in the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes with Ad Valorem and the Tattersalls Gold Cup with Powerscourt. He enjoyed an incredible Classic double at Newmarket in the spring of 2005 when he won both the 2,000 Guineas (Footstepsinthesand) and the 1,000 Guineas (Virginia Waters), and added a third British Classic with Scorpion's success in the St Leger at Doncaster. Oratorio captured the Coral-Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes, and O'Brien also unleashed a raft of high-class two-year-olds, ending the season with the top-rated European juvenile colt (George Washington) and filly (Rumplestiltskin). George Washington captured the 2,000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2006, while Alexandrova took the Epsom Oaks as well as the Irish and Yorkshire equivalents, and Dylan Thomas won the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes. O'Brien enjoyed further Classic success in 2007 with Soldier Of Fortune in the Irish Derby, Peeping Fawn in the Irish Oaks and Astronomer Royal in the French 2,000 Guineas, while Dylan Thomas collected the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. O'Brien was champion trainer for the third time in Britain last season. This season he has sent out Henrythenavigator to win the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas while Halfway To Heaven collected the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Duke Of Marmalade has also recorded Group One victories in the Prix Ganay and the Tattersalls Gold Cup while he sent out Soldier Of Fortune and Macarthur to fill the first two places in today's Juddmonte Coronation Cup.

Juddmonte Coronation Cup Record: 2003-3 Black Sam Bellamy; 2004-5 Brian Boru; 2005-1 YEATS; 2006-4 Ace; 2007-1 SCORPION; 2007-2 Septimus; 2008-1 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE; 2008-2 Macarthur

Johnny Murtagh

Born in Co Meath, Ireland, on May 14, 1970, Johnny Murtagh, who is married to Orla and has five children, was apprenticed to John Oxx and became Irish champion apprentice in 1989. He suffered drink problems early in his career but in 1995 he became Irish champion jockey (he was also champion in 1996 and 1998) and has since gained international prominence, riding in Dubai during the winter (where he has been champion rider), winning the 1995 Breeders' Cup Mile on Ridgewood Pearl and the following year's Beverly D Stakes on Timarida. He enjoyed a phenomenal international season in 2000, winning 12 Group Ones in six different countries, partnering Sinndar to victory in both the Vodafone Derby and Irish Derby and then the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, winning the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de l'Opera on Petrushka and the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf on Kalanisi among others. He was the most successful rider at Royal Ascot in 2001 with five wins, including the Gold Cup on Royal Rebel and St James's Palace Stakes on Black Minnaloushe, aboard whom he also won the 2002 Irish 2,000 Guineas. He won the 2002 2,000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien on Sir Alex Ferguson's Rock Of Gibraltar and landed a second Vodafone Derby on what again seemed the O'Brien second string, High Chaparral, and landed a third renewal of that Classic with Motivator in 2005. In 2003 he won the Irish Derby on Alamshar and took a break in the summer to sort out problems with his back and weight. He stepped down from being stable jockey to John Oxx and had a short-lived spell as stable jockey to David Loder. Murtagh rode over hurdles in the 2005/06 season and came close to riding a Cheltenham Festival winner when second on Golden Cross in the 2006 Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Among his Group One victories last year were Dylan Thomas (King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Peeping Fawn (Yorkshire Oaks, Nassau Stakes & Irish Oaks), Soldier's Tale (Golden Jubilee Stakes), Simply Perfect (Falmouth Stakes) and Notnowcato (Tattersalls Gold Cup). With Kieren Fallon currently out of action due to failing a drugs test in France, Murtagh was announced as the retained rider for Ballydoyle earlier this year. His association with the famous yard has started brilliantly, with English and Irish 2,000 Guineas victories on Henrythenavigator, a brace of Group One wins on Duke Of Marmalade and victory on Soldier Of Fortune in the Juddmonte Coronation Cup.

Juddmonte Coronation Cup Record: 1998-3 Ebadiyla; 2004-6 Magistretti, 2007-2 Septimus; 2008-1 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE:

Soldier Brings Good Fortune For O'brien And Bolger

Three-quarters of an hour before the Juddmonte Oaks, trainers Aidan O'Brien and Jim Bolger were both celebrating the result of the Juddmonte Coronation Cup after Soldier Of Fortune came with a well-timed run to score by three-quarters of a length.

The O'Brien-trained winner was bred by Bolger and looks a leading candidate for further major race glory this year. He is quoted as short as 2/1 (with Stan James and Paddy Power) for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The winner's stablemate Macarthur took a commanding lead before coming back to the field, holding on for third.

"Soldier Of Fortune's a very natural horse," said O'Brien. "He's one of those horses that it's probably just a matter of mind with him. He's always been a very natural horse and we are delighted with the progress he has made since three. I think it was a level pace that wasn't that strong because Frankie (Dettori on Red Rocks) pulled the field back off the pace a bit. They had a lot to do and I couldn't believe that Soldier Of Fortune could get there from where they were because Frankie made it a different race.

"Macarthur is a very good horse and was gone. Soldier Of Fortune did get tired but he's an exceptional horse. When we go home on Monday everything will be discussed as to the next race he goes for. All races from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half are open to him.

"It's great for his first run of the year and I'd say I was a bit concerned beforehand but Johnny was extra cool."

Jockey Johnny Murtagh added: "Macarthur's a good horse in his own right and if my horse didn't pick up then he would have won but mine just quickened a bit better

"It went perfect for me with two horses making the running. I said to Seamus (Heffernan) that Macarthur is a good horse in his own right. This boy quickened up and just got a bit tired in the last 100 yards. I think he's a better horse than last year.

"He has strengthened up and is going to be serious horse this year. We thought he could win the Arc last year but he got interfered with although he probably wouldn't have won.

"But when I rode him in work the other morning I thought he would run very well although whatever he did today I thought he would improve on."

Owner John Magnier added: "I think for his first run of the year, we would have to be happy with that. By looking at him, you can see a lot of physical improvement from three to four but Aidan felt that like his other horses and most people's horses that he would improve for the run do, so that was the negative before the race.

"We think a lot of the horse and after he ran in the Arc last year we thought he might be winning a similar race this season. We are not into policies and we take it horse by horse but this is a horse that everybody thought would benefit from being left in training."

Race 4 - Juddmonte Coronation Cup (Group One) - placed quotes

Channon Pleased With Consistent Youmzain

The ever consistent Youmzain ran on from the rear of the field to claim second in the Group One Juddmonte Coronation Cup, three quarters of a length behind Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune.

The five-year-old, who was cut to 8/1 for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot, was settled at the back of the field before making his run in the home straight and was always closing at the line.

Trainer Mick Channon was pleased with the five-year-old's performance, saying: "Youmzain's run a blinder again - he just needs everything to go right for him but he's run a great race and I'm very happy.

"He went away from the whip a bit but that was an exception. I'd imagine we will aim him at the King George now."

Meanwhile, jockey Richard Hughes added: "They went no gallop. Apart from the pacemakers, they walked and it didn't suit my lad. When I hit him on the left, he went right and when I switched it and hit him on the right, he went left."

French trainer Andre Fabre, bidding for his seventh win in the race with 5/4 favourite Getaway, who unshipped rider Stephane Pasquier leaving the paddock, felt that his runner was beaten before being boxed in inside the final furlong.

The handler said of the fifth: "Getaway was beaten when he got checked. He just pulled too hard and never settled. He was beaten by better horses."