2011 result

racing news/

Kingsbarns Impressive in Racing Post Trophy
27/10/12

1 Kingsbarns 15/8F
2 Van Der Neer 5/1
3 Steeler 7/2
7 ran Distances: 1¾l, shd, 2l
TIME 1m 40.32s (slow by 2.92s)

Kingsbarns ran out a ready winner of the final Group One of the season, the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. Twelve months after the procession of Camelot in the same race, Aidan O'Brien has unearthed another colt with immense potential.

Kingsbarns
© Caroline Norris

Having only made his debut 17 days earlier, many racegoers will have only become aware of the Galileo colt, bred by O'Brien's wife Annemarie, when he was supplemented into the race on Monday.

Kingsbarns was sent off the 15-8 favourite and the result never looked in any danger at any stage. Joseph O'Brien took it up over a furlong out before going away to win by a length and three-quarters from Van Der Neer, who got up on the line to beat Steeler. Jim Bolger's Trading Leather was a disappointing fifth.

It was O'Brien's seventh win in the race and he said: "We're delighted. He's only a baby coming here but he's got an unbelievable cruising speed. He won his maiden on easy ground and we were intent on leaving him off for the season, but we gave him one bit of work and after that he was very fresh.

"There was a big exam for this being sat and he passed it with flying colours and all his figures stacked up. You never know how they are going to react, but that's how he ended up being here. All the boxes were ticked at home - his speed figures, his recovery, his visuals and everything we do at home.

"You can never be sure of stamina, but he's by Galileo. When they travel like him, though, it makes you wonder. He'll have learned a lot. That was the first time he's been away from home - there's also a stiff wind and it's a wide-open place.

"Joseph said he was stopping in front and pricking his ears - he took it up earlier than he wanted. He's very exciting."

The younger O'Brien feels a 2000 Guineas tilt is not out of the question. "He was very relaxed and travelled well and I don't think the ground will ever be an issue for him," said O'Brien jnr.

"He quickened up two out and then idled when he hit the front, as you'd expect from just his second run. It's obviously up to the owners and dad, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him start off in the Guineas."

Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Saeed Manana, who owns Van Der Neer, said: "He ran on strongly. He looked well beaten at one stage, yet when he switched him he maybe found a better strip of ground. He certainly stayed the trip."

Racing Post Trophy (Group 1) (Str)
£216,000 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1£2916
7 ran
Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)