St Nicholas Abbey provided a belated but thunderous reminder of his capabilities by streaking nine lengths clear in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester.
Considered the sport’s next big thing after his devastating victory in the Racing Post Trophy of October 2009, the colt had almost reached the last-chance saloon after making just two subsequent appearances.
He was a perplexing sixth when favourite for last year’s 2000 Guineas and hardly back to form when only third on his recent comeback at the Curragh, meaning punters elected to send him off at 11-8 as many sided with the even-money favourite Harris Tweed.
And it was Harris Tweed who cut out the running until Ryan Moore gave St Nicholas Abbey the go-ahead turning into the straight.
Perhaps revealingly, he was still sprinting further away as they crossed the line.
Moore had helped Harbinger to lift the race a year ago in his short but brilliant campaign and St Nicholas Abbey is part of a formidable middle-distance team for Aidan O’Brien, with his squad fortified this week by So You Think and Thursday’s Huxley Stakes winner Await The Dawn.
“He was very impressive in what was a very messy race,” explained Moore.
“They went very quickly, slowed down, and then went quick again.
“I probably went for home a little earlier than I wanted to, but he was going that easily I just let him go on.
“He did everything really well and he was so relaxed that I expected him to probably win down at the start.”
Totesport offer 16-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Stan James quoting 12-1 for the King George.
