FIFTEEN, and still counting! As the crown jewels of the sport, Group One races are supposed to be the hardest to win, but Aidan O'Brien clearly finds doing so about as difficult as shelling peas.
Twenty-four hours after Duke Of Marmalade had given him his 14th of the campaign when landing Ascot's King George, Mastercraftsman yesterday added another top-level success to the O'Brien tally when running away with the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh
.
Johnny Murtagh's mount drifted alarmingly in the betting and was eventually sent off a 4-1 shot but for once, the market got it badly wrong as the Danehill Dancer colt strolled home by four-and-half lengths from the favourite Art Connoisseur.
The bookies immediately took their sharpest scissors to Mastercraftsman's price for next year's 2000 Guineas and he's now favourite in most lists for the Classic at odds ranging from 5-1 to 8's.
O'Brien's absence from the winner's circle after the race might have led some to believe he was getting a bit blasé about landing Group One's and had opted to stay at home and watch it on the telly, but the Ballydoyle handler, dubbed a genius by Murtagh, was otherwise engaged watching his son represent Ireland in an eventing competition.
"Aidan said to me during week the horse was ready," admitted the jockey who might be feeling hard done by as he's now won only 13 Group One's so far this term. "He's coming on all the time and although he had a hard race the last time, he probably needed it. He probably needs seven furlongs as well so we wanted to make it a good, solid pace.
"He was very professional and honest, and has a great stride," added Murtagh after taking his seasonal prize money to £3.75 million
Michael Bell, trainer of runner-up Art Connoisseur, offered no excuses for the defeat but did believe his Coventry Stakes hero had run the race slightly below par.
"The winner has obviously improved a lot, although I don't think our horse quite showed the form he did at Royal Ascot. He hasn't shown the same turn of foot. We'll take him home and see how he is, his possible targets now are the Gimcrack and Prix Morny," said the Newmarket handler.
In France, British raiders enjoyed mix fortunes with Paul Cole's youngster Percolator finding Italian challenger Lui Rei too good for him in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte.
Henry Cecil's Twice Over fared better when landing the Prix Eugene Adam at the same track.
With the Galway Festival kicking off this evening and Glorious Goodwood starting tomorrow, stamina and an understanding bank manager will come in handy over the next few days.
This side of the Irish Sea at least, however, a hectic week gets off to a quiet start with none of today's four cards having a great deal of appeal.
That could easily change, of course, should the nap Wizard Looking score at Southwell. He has been in decent form and his liking for a track that doesn't suit everyone is a big bonus.
