Saratoga Springs, the laidback colt who never puts in a full effort when half will do, can become the third Irish-trained horse to win the French Derby at Chantilly tomorrow (3.20, BBC 2).
The Aidan O'Brien-trained chestnut is probably the best-equipped of the Ballydoyle ATeam to travel for the Prix du Jockey Club, such is his attitude to life.
So much was indicated way back in early April during a media day at O'Brien's stable. King Of Kings looked out from his box at the admiring hack pack with a haughty nervousness, Second Empire with an aggressive inquisitiveness. Saratoga Springs' head appeared briefly over his door, yawned dismissively and then returned to the important things in life, such as eating and sleeping.
It was a laudably cool cameo for a colt who has made a habit of making things difficult for himself but who has the happy knack of eventually getting them done. A Group 1 win in Doncaster's Racing Post Trophy last season proved that there is courage to match his talent, and his re-introduction in York's Dante Stakes hinted that both virtues have matured in equal measure.
Michael Kinane's mount travelled unusually sweetly through the race, quickened well to sew the race up and then, typically when in front, decided he had enough done. That allowed City Honours to get within half a length of Saratoga Springs, but the authority of the win was clear.
Tomorrow's trip to Chantilly shouldn't knock a stir out of Saratoga Springs, nor will the ground, which is forecast to have a cut, and O'Brien is not overly concerned that the colt is tackling 12 furlongs for the first time.
"It's always a doubt the first time but I'm not that worried about him staying," O'Brien said yesterday. "He did a nice canter this morning and we think, and hope, he has come on from York."
Only Assert (1982) and Caerleon (1983) have wrested France's premier classic back to Ireland, and the Prix Lupin winner Croco Rouge is likely to be the main home defence for a race that has thrown up champions Helissio and Peintre Celebre in the last two years.
Croco Rouge beat Daymarti by half a length in the Lupin, with Frankie Dettori's mount Mudeer two lengths further back in fourth. Mudeer was only just beaten by Saratoga Springs at Doncaster and has reportedly improved significantly since the Lupin.
The evidence of the French 2,000 Guineas is that the home colts may not be up to much this year and Mudeer could out-point them this time. That would only strengthen the chance of Saratoga Springs. If he travels as well through tomorrow's race as he did at York, Kinane should be able to produce Saratoga Springs at the distance, and from then on only the ultra-tough are likely to be able to match him.
Kinane and O'Brien will be represented also in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat by Chateau Royal, and while the step up in distance could favour the colt, this time the French can win with Gold Away. Seventy minutes later, the home team should have reason to settle for just that.
The Cesarewitch Handicap, a race which trainer John Oxx has won five times in the 90's, could be on the agenda for Hazarama who made all under John Murtagh for a convincing success in the opening Duncannon Maiden at Wexford yesterday evening.
The Kahyasi filly kept on well from the home turn for the Meath-born rider, now four clear in the championship race, to beat the Dermot Weld-trained newcomer Vagrant by two and a half lengths.
Oxx's assistant Jimmy O'Neill said: "She will be campaigned in handicaps from 12 furlongs plus.
