‘Banker material' Aidan O'Brien horse banned from Royal Ascot backed off the boards for next race
Two-year-old colt Italy is all the rage for Saturday's Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.
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Ryan Moore usually waits until the last minute to decide who he rides - but he has picked an Aidan O'Brien horse out days early, signalling the pair's huge confidence behind him
Credit: PA
Italy was hugely impressive when overcoming inexperience to score at 4-9 on debut at Leopardstown in May.
Those who watched said at the time they were confident the horse 'wins wherever he goes' next time out.
The form has been boosted massively too, with 16-1 runner-up Thesecretadversary finishing second in the Chesham at Royal Ascot.
Italy was blocked from running in that race because it is only for two-year-olds whose sire won over 10f.
Italy, who cost 200,000 guineas and is by Wootton Basset out of a sister to O'Brien's Derby winner Serpentine, hasn't run since his awesome debut.
But he is all set to tear up the Superlative - and follow in the hoofsteps of former O'Brien superstars City Of Troy and Gustav Klimt.
O'Brien said Moore doesn't make his mind up on who he will ride until five minutes before the cut-off time of 1pm.
But in an unusual move, Moore has already been jocked up on Italy for the 7f Group 2.
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It is a particularly interesting development because O'Brien also has £350,000 Dorset in the race too - although he is unlikely to run.
Bookies initially went 11-10 Italy but he has been backed off the boards since and is now as short as 8-13.
Italy is already 12-1 favourite for next year's Derby but that price could collapse if he demolishes rivals this weekend.
Godolphin's No1 trainer Charlie Appleby has fired some good ones at the Superlative in recent years as well.
Former champion two-year-old and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas are among the winners.
He is set to run Saba Desert this year - a winner at Sandown on debut last month.
But the son of Dubawi out of a Sea The Stars mare is nowhere near as strong in the market as Italy.
Speaking after his first run, O'Brien was clearly trying to temper expectations but couldn't hide his delight.
He said: "He won his maiden very well at Leopardstown and he is a colt that we always liked at home.
"We have been happy with him since then.
'He was green when he ran at Leopardstown, but we liked him before the race, and he will improve again from that. I was more than happy with the performance.
'The form has been given a boost as the runner-up put in a good solid run to finish second last time out in the Chesham at Ascot."
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