Saxon Warrior and Ryan Moore pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien claimed the Group 2 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes for the seventh year in-a-row, and for the seventeenth time in total, as his Saxon Warrior came home in front under Ryan Moore.
Successful on debut at the Curragh last month, the son of Deep Impact was expected to follow-up this afternoon, and having opened at evens on-course, he eventually went off the clear 5/6 favourite.
Settled behind the leader on the inner, he was pushed along to lead over a furlong out. He was then ridden clear in the closing stages, going on to score comfortably by two and a half lengths. Delano Roosevelt (3/1) made it a 1, 2 for O'Brien, as he finished second under Seamie Heffernan, just a head in front of Warm The Voice in third.
O'Brien said afterwards: "Ryan was delighted with him. We were worried about the ground and Ryan said it's not his ground but he was very happy with him. He travelled very strong and quickened very well.
"He can run again but he doesn't have to. Ryan said he had plenty of speed and felt very pacey, and we always thought he would stay. He's a classic colt.
"He's very inexperienced. We put in the two horses (against him) and they are going to be decent middle distance horses. He had to learn a lot and he to be decent to do what he did.
"We are going to leave seven in the Arc tomorrow. Order Of St George, Idaho, Highland Reel, Capri, Winter, Seventh Heaven and Cliffs Of Moher. That's what we are going to leave in and we will decide after that."
Market reaction:
Derby 2018 - Coral 12/1 (from 16/1), Boylesports 8/1 (from 20/1), Paddy Power 6/1 favourite (from 20/1). Coral make The Pentagon 10/1 favourite
2000 Guineas - 10/1 (from 20/1) with Paddy Power
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
