AIDAN O’Brien won last Friday’s Investec Oaks with 50/1 shot Qualify but there was a minor sting in the tail when he was fined £3,000 for poor time-keeping resulting in the late saddling of his three runners.

The trainer appears to have accepted the punishment with good grace, admitting that he failed to allow sufficient time for saddling up, even though his staff had been warned they were running late.

He was required to attend a stewards’ inquiry but was dealing with the press when the announcement was made over the tannoy and only heard about it on his way to the airport.

Therefore it was not possible to interview him on the day of the race; the stewards accepted the explanation but the fine of £3,000 was levied because two horses were not saddled in time and had to be hurried to the start, contributing to the race being late off (by six minutes).

In 2009 the trainer was fined £840 when his six runners in the Derby arrived in the paddock after the signal had been given for jockeys to mount.

Fleche fantastic for Norelands

THE dam of the impressive Derby winner Golden Horn is in foal again to another Darley stallion Shamardal. The unraced mare also has a filly by Acclamation who will be retained to race by her current owners Harry McCalmont’s Noreland Stud at the Goffs Orby Sale. The mare was purchased by Norelands from Hascombe and Valiant Studs at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2012 for 62,000 gns. Her yearling is by Champs Elyseeys and was bought by Steve Parkin last year.