King Of Kings returned to the track with a win in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas, Saratoga Springs did the same in the Dante at York and there will be any number of stunned faces at the Curragh this afternoon if the last of the Ballydoyle A-List, Second Empire, doesn't complete the hat-trick in the £200,000 Hibernia Irish 2,000 Guineas.
At the start of this week there was no hint of Second Empire even running in this race. A muscle injury had reduced the unbeaten colt to "with a run" quotes for the Epsom Derby. That looked likely to be the first chance we would have to see Second Empire this year but his rate of progress has been quicker than expected and Aidan O'Brien clearly feels confident the colt is forward enough to run here.
O'Brien said yesterday: "It's not ideal starting him in a Group One but we're happy he's up to a run. All our horses have improved for their first run of the season and he will too but he's fit and, in the circumstances, we can't do anymore for him. Hopefully he will come back well."
The last sentiment will be shared by everyone as an impressive victory for Second Empire today will put him to the front of the Epsom Derby market and a possible dual Ballydoyle assault on Epsom will be in the making. Yesterday, O'Brien confirmed King Of Kings as "a strong possible for the Derby."
Normally King Of Kings would be the sort of colt to start the bookmakers quaking in anticipation of Epsom but there are many within the O'Brien camp who rate Second Empire the best of the lot and, even short of peak fitness, he should beat his six opponents today in what is the smallest Guineas field since Rodrigo De Triano beat five in 1992.
Fa-Eq, supplemented by Godolphin for £25,000, and the French Guineas third Desert Prince are the overseas raiders this time but if he gets the mile, Second Empire's stable companion Bianconi may be the biggest danger of all. However, for those who were captivated by his three juvenile successes, including the Grand Criterium at Longchamp and, significantly, the Prix du Chenes on fast ground, Second Empire will be expected to ruthlessly deny the opposition any chance of winning. He shouldn't disappoint.
With the excellent current weather drying out the ground all the time, reliable form on a sound surface will be important so in the circumstances, Burden Of Proof is picked ahead of Strike Hard in the Group Three Weatherbys Greenlands Stakes.
The form of the diminutive Show Me The Money's success at Cork has been consistently boosted and Noel Meade's filly is taken to beat the O'Brien team in the Oral B Marble Hill Stakes.
Space Trucker looks good value for the 5lb penalty he picked up when winning at Leopardstown on Wednesday. The former top hurdler appeared to idle in front and if Wayne Smith repeats his patient tactics, Space Trucker will be hard to beat in the Majestic Handicap.
