Henri Matisse and Wayne Lordan. © Photo Healy Racing
Despite being sent off the complete outsider of the quintet, the Ballydoyle second string Henri Matisse stayed on best to win the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.
A winner on his racecourse debut over course and distance last month, the Aidan O'Brien trained colt was taking a significant step up in class here.
With Ryan Moore electing to partner the better fancied Tunbridge Wells, Wayne Lordan took the ride on the son of Wootton Bassett.
Slowly away, the 8/1 chance was held up in last place, as Arizona Blaze took the field along in the initial stages. British raider The Strikin Viking gave chase, with Tunbridge Wells back in third.
The latter horse was one of the first off the bridle over two out and with Arizona Blaze also soon giving best, The Strikin Viking surged to the front.
Having been hard at work from the two pole, Lordan found Henri Matisse responding to his urgings, moving second over a furlong out, before staying on late to collar the leader over 100 yards out.
At the finish, Henri Matisse had half-a-length in hand of the Kevin Ryan trained visitor.
Aidan O'Brien reported: “We're delighted with him. We thought he was a bit too babyish to go to Ascot and Wayne said he's still babyish.
“He said he'll love going up to seven and we might go up to seven next, we'll see what's there for the Phoenix Stakes.
“He's a lovely horse, tries very hard and is very genuine. He has an unbelievable pedigree.”
On Ryan Moore choosing Tunbridge Wells he added:- “That was my fault really. I thought he was a bit more forward and a bit harder.
“It was hard to assess this horse after the last day, he made very hard work of winning. Obviously I put him on the wrong one but I do plenty of that!
“Ryan's horse will be fine, he maybe didn't travel as strongly as I thought he would and he maybe wants better ground. Maybe he needs to grow up a little bit.”
When asked if the winner could be a National Stakes horse he said:- “I'd say he could be, that's exactly what I'd say he is.
“That was a Group 2 and if he was to go again you'd have to look at either the Futurity or the Phoenix. If he was staying at six it's the Phoenix and if he's going to seven it would be the Futurity on the way to the National.
“We haven't leaned on the colts at all yet. We let the few Ascot horses come along and Ryan's horse (Tunbridge Wells) was in that but we thought he was too babyish for Ascot.
“Probably from now on they'll hopefully start arriving. He was always a highly thought of horse.”
Paddy Power went 10/1(from 20) Henri Matisse for 2000 Guineas.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
