Kingsbarns rules at Doncaster
Kingsbarns (2c Galileo-Beltisaal, by Belmez) made the step up to G1 company look easy with an impressive victory in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
Joseph O’Brien always looked confident as the Galileo colt cruised up to take the advantage over a furlong from home before forging clear in the closing stages to score by a length and three-quarters from Van Der Neer.
It was a seventh win for trainer Aidan O’Brien in the juvenile contest following and bookmakers immediately installed Kingsbarns as a short-priced favourite for next year’s Investec Derby.
O’Brien, whose wife Annemarie bred Kingsbarns, commented: “He won his maiden very nicely a little under three weeks ago. We were half-thinking of leaving him alone after that but we did one little bit of work with him and he was lovely.
“He came through his work with flying colours. All the data on him at home was very good and we were wandering if another horse like Camelot could come along.
“He has a lot of speed and he had all of the options open for him next season - he is a great traveller and has loads of natural speed.”
Winning jockey Joseph O’Brien added: “He relaxed and travelled very well. We probably got to the front a bit too soon but my rhythm was taking me there and I had to keep going.
“He was very green - he went the last furlong and a half with his ears pricked - and I think that this is going to be a very good horse.
“Good ground will be no problem for him. He works on good ground and the all-weather at home and he will have no problem with it.”