Chester tips for Friday: Cook Islands is Dee one to beat

David Metcalf | May 6, 2016

Cook Islands can sail to success in Dee Stakes

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has an excellent record in the Dee Stakes and Cook Islands looks to hold leading claims of providing him with another winner of the 1m 2f Listed contest on the final day of Chester’s May Festival (14:40).

The Ballydoyle handler has won the race five times, including three of the last four renewals.

In Cook Islands, O’Brien has a lightly-raced colt who looked a smart prospect in two runs as a juvenile.

After finishing a fast finishing 3/4 length fourth off 22 at the Curragh to stable companion Hit It A Bomb, who subsequently went on to land the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, the son of Fastnet Rock opened his account in good style at Navan.

Lots to like about Navan success

Cook Islands still looked green, but responded well to his riders urgings to take up the running a furlong out and forged clear to beat Sea Of Mysetry by 3 1/2 lengths.

It was a most taking performance, and one which suggested Cook Islands would make up into a very smart middle distance performer as a three-year-old.

Although well beaten into fourth on his return to action in a Group 3 at Leopardstown last month, Cooks Islands was totally unsuited by the heavy ground and looked after by jockey Ryan Moore once it was clear he would not be winning.