Curragh report: Holy Roman Emperor is a clear favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas after impressively securing Europe's first Group One prize of the season for juveniles at the Curragh yesterday.
Kieren Fallon's mount accelerated in style to beat the 13 to 8 joint market leader Hellvelyn by almost two lengths in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes, but, significantly, Aidan O'Brien is not going to allow Holy Roman Emperor rest on his laurels.
This Sunday's Prix Morny at Deauville will see a quick reappearance by the Danehill colt, and success in that will see him emulate Fasliyev (1999) and Johannesburg (2001), who both completed the Group One double for the Ballydoyle trainer.
"He is a very strong and mature colt who wants to race now," said O'Brien, who was landing yesterday's feature for a remarkable eighth time in nine years.
That's an unparalleled level of domination in a top-flight event anywhere in the world, but the record does appear to show that anyone tempted to take Guineas quotes of as low as 7 to 1 with Boylesports for next year might be leaving it too late to cash in on Holy Roman Emperor.
Unlike last year's winner, George Washington, who graduated to classic glory, both Johannesburg and Fasliyev, who admittedly never ran again after completing the double, were at their best as juveniles, and O'Brien's determination to crack on with Holy Roman Emperor suggests the same might apply with the latest Phoenix winner.
Fallon, though, was impressed. "He has a great temperament and bounced off that ground," the jockey said. "George Washington did it easy, but all I had to do with this fellah was shake the reins. He made a Coventry winner look ordinary and did it in two strides. He would done more in a piece of work at home."
But with his juvenile team starting to hit top gear, O'Brien was non-committal about stepping Holy Roman Emperor up to seven furlongs in next month's National Stakes.
"Other horses have to be slotted in. Duke Of Marmalade might go for the Futurity here, and that's a race we will also look at for Trinity College, who won at Cork," he said.
"But this colt was explosive today when he got out. He was able to turn it on."
Fallon was in winning form too on Moss Vale, who easily landed the O'Leary Memorial Sprint Stakes for Yorkshire trainer Dandy Nicholls.
"He's the dearest horse I've been able to buy at £250,000 but he might be cheap now!" grinned Nicholls, who will aim Moss Vale at York's Nunthorpe Stakes next.
Mustameet also has a Group One target next after impressively graduating to a mile and a quarter with a three-length defeat of Chelsea Rose in the Royal Whip Stakes.
"The only time he tried the trip before was on heavy ground last year. But he was good there," said Kevin Prendergast who put the five-year-old into the Irish Champion Stakes at the second entry stage.
"For a horse that has broken down twice, he really loves that fast ground and he will run in the Champion next."
Mustameet was installed as a general 14 to 1 shot for next month's Leopardstown feature.
Michael Kinane and John Oxx were in good form with a double that included an impressive, front-running performance by Four Sins in the conditions fillies race.
The other joint favourite, Rock Of Gibraltar's sister, Nell Gwyn, managed only seventh on her debut, but Four Sins could have earned herself a run in the Goffs Million race for fillies next month.
Oxx also introduced the 14 to 1 newcomer Arch Swing to beat the favourite Theann by a neck in the opener. "She has no fancy entries but she's a terrific looking filly and she is smart," said the Curragh trainer.
