Ivan enters Classic equation
Ante-post punters were posed another puzzle at Newmarket today as the Ballydoyle stranglehold around next year’s 2000 Guineas was tightened further by Ivan Denisovich, the impressive winner of the TNT July Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien now trains five of the first six horses in the betting for next year’s colts’ Classic – but the question is which one is the stable’s number one hope.
Asked that question after seeing his charge run away with this Group Two prize, O’Brien offered few clues.
And bookmakers were left to draw their own conclusions on the performance, totesport and Coral making Ivan Denisovich their new 12-1 favourite for the 2000 Guineas, while Ladbrokes and Cashmans offer 25-1, keeping stablemate George Washington at the top of their lists.
VC Bet make that pair 16-1 joint-favourites.
The successful son of Danehill was becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the race.
Kieren Fallon brought the winner, who was held up well off the pace in the early stages, with a late challenge on the outside in the final half-furlong to score in good style.
The 7-2 chance won by two lengths from Northern Empire, with long-time leader Black Charmer just a further short-head away in a bunch finish for the placings.
Howard Johnson’s Original Source was a tailed-off last after running away with jockey Robert Winston on the way to the six-furlong start, while favourite Red Clubs, the winner of the Coventry Stakes, also proved a major disappointment.
The 2-1 chance never travelled well under Michael Hills and faded from the two-furlong pole to finish in seventh.
Fallon was in no doubt about the winner’s ability, saying: “I was further back than I wanted to be. He got shuffled back early, but he’s picked up really good.
“He just idled when he hit the front – he’s still a big baby.
“I’ve always liked him. He should have run in the Coventry and I think he would have won it. He has got a big future.”
O’Brien suggested that York’s Gimcrack Stakes could be a possible target.
“We shan’t be in any panic now because he has had three quick runs, but he will be back for something at the end of the season,” he said.
“He’s a real athlete, full of life and really bubbly.
“He was very green first time at Newbury, but Kieren liked him a lot and sure enough he won very easily at Leopardstown.
“I know you’ll think I’m just saying it, but there wouldn’t be a line between them (the winner and George Washington) at the moment. They’re both nice horses and Group Two winners, but they’re on two different programmes.
“They are two nice two-year-olds and we have got a good team this season, although it’s early enough to be saying that and there are still plenty to run.”
Brian Meehan, the trainer of runner-up Northern Empire, said: “That was a great performance and this horse is the real deal.
“The winner is the best two-year-old I have seen out this season and that is not a difficult statement to make, which makes this horse the second best.
“The plan was to go for the Prix Morny after this, but I might also look at the Prix Robert Papin at the end of the month. I have no doubt he will get further, but I might keep him to six furlongs this season.”
Mark Johnston, trainer of Black Charmer, said: “That was a very good run. It was a shot in the dark as he had just won a maiden and it was big jump up in class.
“I’ve always thought he was a nice horse and he would have run in the Superlative Stakes tomorrow if his owner didn’t already have a horse in the race.
“I’ll probably look to the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood for him now.”
