A clean-sweep of Europe's top two-year-old races could be on the cards for Johannesburg who kept his unbeaten record intact with a sparkling five-length victory at Leopardstown yesterday.

Aidan O'Brien was also on the Group 1 mark at Deauville with the Jamie Spencer-ridden King Charlemagne in the Prix Maurice de Gheest but it was Johannesburg's success that had the Ballydoyle battalions smiling.

As a 2 to 5 favourite, success for the colt in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes was hardly a surprise. But the manner of it was enough to see the bookies cut Johannesburg to 16 to 1 clear favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas.

"There is no doubt he is a very brilliant two year old," declared O'Brien, who will aim Johannesburg at Deauville's Prix Morny in 13 days time.

Fasliyev, one of the three O'Brien trained winners of yesterday's highlight, completed the Morny double in 1999 and the trainer added: "I never compare horses but this horse is a brilliant two year old whose acceleration is electric. He just has two extra gears."

Fears that yielding going on the sprint track might not suit Johannesburg were dispelled as Kinane bided his time behind pace-setting stablemate Line Rider until asking his mount to quicken approaching the final furlong.

He certainly had far too many gears for yesterday's opposition. Michael Kinane asked Johannesburg to quicken outside the furlong pole and the response was instant. It was five lengths back to Miss Beabea with Agnetha third.

Johannesburg has one Group 1 under his belt and may not be finished yet with O'Brien saying: "You'd be looking at the Middle Park and the Dewhurst later on but we'll try and get the Morny out of the way first."

As for his Guineas prospects, the trainer added: "It's a long way away but I don't think he will have a problem getting seven furlongs this year and the way he relaxes, you can't say he won't get a mile."

Haydock's Stanley Leisure Cup is on King Charlemagne's agenda following his neck defeat of Three Points in France, a race where Minardi reportedly finished a slightly unlucky fifth.

"Jamie said he would have no problem dropping back in trip and felt he had the others covered all the way. He doesn't do a lot in front," said O'Brien, whose Group 1 tally for the year now stands at 11.

Bahamian Pirate's short head defeat of One Won One meant a sixth successive British-trained winner of the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint. The Dandy Nicholls-trained horse was a 50th success in Ireland this year for John Murtagh and York's Nunthorpe Stakes could be next for the winner.

The 10 to 1 Sadlers Wings provided a first black type success on the flat for the top jumps trainer Willie Mullins and the firsts may not be over because the winner is being targeted at the Irish St Leger.

"It's a bit of a different game this," smiled Mullins after the Ballyroan Stakes.

"He was very backward last year and up to June I was thinking of the Cheltenham bumper for him. But he is a horse that is going the right way."

The Curragh's Group 3 Futurity is next for Stage Call who short headed the £3.4 million newcomer Diaghilev in the opening maiden and Kevin Manning doubled up with Mood Indigo in the last.