An already remarkable 2001 could get even better for Aidan O'Brien tomorrow as the trainer is on the prowl to take his Group 1 tally into double figures.
The unbeaten star juvenile Johannesburg is as short as 4 to 7 to pick up Tomorrow's Indepdendent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes and the O'Brien is also lining King Charlemagne and Minardi for a double shot at Deauville's Prix Maurice de Gheest.
"Jamie Spencer will ride King Charlemgane and Frederick Sanchez, who has ridden for us before, will be on Minardi. The extra day has helped us with the stone bruise that stopped us running Minardi at Ascot," said O'Brien yesterday.
Understandably the real confidence about the Ballydoyle team adding to the eight Group 1's already notched up centres on Johannesburg, who has been backed from an opening ante-post price of 5 to 4 all the way down with Cashmans.
The Norfolk and Anglesey Stakes winner is backed up by stable companions Line Rider and Wiseman's Ferry but O'Brien gave an upbeat bulletin on Johannesburg, who is bidding to give the trainer a fourth successive win in the race.
"He is a very nice colt who has never disappointed us. So far we have been very happy with him and he is horse who is still progressing," he said.
Rather than a couple of cross-channel challenges and a home opposition that could end up headed by High Society, Minashki and the Stakes winner Agnetha, a bigger headache may be the ground which is forecast to be "yielding to soft."
O'Brien said: "Obviously Johannesburg is a fast horse and he is a fast ground horse. It was quick ground when he won his maiden at Fairyhouse and the same at Ascot." Arguably, though, Johannesburg's best effort to date was his four-length defeat of Wiseman's Ferry in the Anglesey and there was a dig in the going on that occasion. Even if it is more pronounced this time, it will still be a surprise if the Ballydoyle favourite doesn't keep his unbeaten record.
The ante-post second favourite Steaming Home misses the race after Dermot Weld elected to run Agnetha in her place.
This time 12 months ago, Freud was widely predicted as the likely big race winner only to be withdrawn late. Now the enigmatic brother to Giants Causeway is being lined up for the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint and he should be up to making up for lost time.
It is surprising, considering his reputation, that Freud has not scored in pattern company.
In fact, he has only won the once and such was the range of headgear tried on him earlier in the season, it would have been hard to imagine backing the colt with confidence in any race.
Things can change however. A fine but unlucky run at Ascot was followed by an even better effort in the July Cup when he was beaten from the start by a low draw but still comfortably beat the opposition around him.
O'Brien and Mick Kinane also look the team to follow in the opener where the £3.4 million Diaghilev makes his debut over a mile.
Sadlers Wings can boost the St Leger claims of Vinnie Roe who beat him last time out when he takes on Chiming and Masilia in the Listed Ballyroan Stakes.
