Emperor strikes back
Holy Roman Emperor gave Aidan O’Brien his eighth win in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes with a convincing victory at the Curragh.
In doing so, Kieren Fallon’s mount reversed Royal Ascot form with Coventry Stakes winner Hellvelyn.
Powering past Bryan Smart’s runner inside the final furlong, the 13-8 joint-favourite comfortably held his market rival by a length and three-quarters. Miss Beatrix was third.
Drayton was quickly sent into the lead by Wayne Lordan, who was making his comeback from injury.
However, Tommy Stack’s runner was headed by Hellvelyn inside the final quarter mile.
But his bid for glory was only temporary as Holy Roman Emperor burst through the pack to seize the race in a matter of strides and continue O’Brien’s hold on this Group One feature.
The son of Danehill is now 8-1 from 16-1 for the Stan James 2000 Guineas with William Hill and VC Bet, while Paddy Power go 10-1.
The winner will not be resting on his laurels and now heads to the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville next weekend.
O’Brien said: “He’s quite a horse isn’t he? He’s very smart looking. He was explosive when he got out and he’s able to turn it on. He just powered through.
“He’ll go to the Prix Morny next weekend, he just wants to race and racing brings out the best in him.
“At Ascot he ran in the middle of the track, he’d only run the once before so the whole thing probably came as a shock to him. Kieren came back in and said he was like a horse just broken.
“Looking further ahead all of the big races are open to him and he’s very strong and mature.”
Fallon added: “He has got such a great temperament. He just bounced off the ground and quickened.
“George (Washington) did it easily last year and he has done it impressively as well. I just gave him a shake of the reins and he was gone.
“Something can’t have been right with him at Ascot, he must have been feeling something and didn’t give his running. This was a competitive field and he made a Coventry winner look ordinary.
“I didn’t think he would quicken like that and he’s done nothing here, it was like a piece of work for him.”
Hellvelyn's rider Ted Durcan said: “I had the run of the race and he really picked up one and a half out when I thought I would win.
“He’s kept on all the way to the line but was beaten by a better horse on the day.”
