3 minute read

Well-backed favourite obliges in juvenile feature

Arizona  came home strongly to give Aidan O'Brien a ninth success in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sent off the 15-8 favourite on the back of an impressive eight-length win at the Curragh, his supporters will have been a little worried early on.

Outpaced, Ryan Moore was riding him pretty vigorously from halfway, but the fine stamp of a two-year-old began to eat up the ground inside the last of the six furlongs.

Mark Johnston's Makyon had led the field along under Silvestre de Sousa and entering the final furlong was still in front.

As his stride shortened the Archie Watson-trained Guildsman threw down a challenge before Richard Hannon's Threat, the second-favourite, clicked into gear.

He had no answer to the son of No Nay Never, however, who beat Threat by half a length, with Guildsman a neck back in third.

O'Brien said: "He was very green the first day and progressed a lot the next time and won very easily, but he probably didn't learn a lot because of that.

"This was the first day he had to learn. He was a little bit slowly away, a little bit lost through the race, but came home really well, so I'm delighted.

"He has loads of speed, as he wouldn't be able to do what he did, but we always thought he'd have no problem getting seven furlongs and when they do that, normally they'll have no problem getting a mile next year.

"He could sharpen up a lot from that, but seven furlongs should be very comfortable to him. He's a fine big horse and you'd look forward to him next year.

"You'd imagine he'd get a mile. He's probably quicker than he lets on. He's still a baby and when he won at the Curragh we thought if he was eligible for the Chesham we'd have had no problem running him in it.

"That type of horse can get quicker when they learn. He was babyish in the race and still came home well. He'd have learnt plenty today."

Hannon said of the runner-up: "He is a good horse. We came here to learn that, and we have. There are no excuses. He is a Group One horse and we can't wait for the rest of the year.

"The six furlongs suited him. Maybe (we could go to Newmarket), he is the sort of horse that will come out of the race great. He is strong and mature and hopefully we will have a good year with him."

Watson was thrilled with Guildsman, saying: "I'm delighted. They have probably gone quick in front and they've set the race up for Arizona and us. I thought the second horse's run on the other side of the track was full of merit.

"I couldn't be happier with my lad. There is a very defined path for horses like him as he is a ready-made two-year-old. Six furlongs is his trip and if we are happy with him we will be looking at races like the July Stakes and the Richmond."