| A quick turnaround proved no issue for Man’s Best Friend (11/2) as he produced a sizzling display in the G2 Markel Richmond Stakes over six furlongs.
Straight out of maiden company after winning at Naas last week, Ryan Moore’s mount had to overcome traffic problems from halfway but looked a threat once finding racing room inside the final furlong.
The son of No Nay Never readily ran down Adaay Of Scarlett (8/1) to score by a length, with the runner-up having filled the same position in the G2 Coventry Stakes and G2 July Stakes. Night In Vegas (6/1) was third, a further length and a half in arrears.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Man’s Best Friend has G1 entries over six and seven furlongs in the coming weeks.
O’Brien said: “I am delighted with Man’s Best Friend. The last day at Naas was only his second run and he is a baby of a horse. We thought bringing him here today was going to do him good, win, lose or draw.
“Ryan said he had nowhere to go through the whole race, but he liked him. He said he felt classy and that he would get further. He thought he travelled well.
“All options are open; he looks a Middle Park type of horse or a Gimcrack horse. He could turn into a Dewhurst horse, who knows? He could be a nice colt.”
Moore said: “Wayne [Lordan] said he liked Man’s Best Friend when he won at Naas last week. He is a fast horse, with a beautiful pedigree. He would have been an unlucky loser, but luckily he got out just in time. He can only get better. It is the first time I have sat on him. He is a strong horse, with a lot of speed. He has a good future.”
MV Magnier of Coolmore said: “Ryan gave him an incredible ride, really. He is riding out of his skin at the moment, and Aidan is having a great year, so we are just lucky to be part of it. Aidan, actually, for the last six or seven weeks, has been praising the horse quite a bit.
“He is a No Nay Never, who is a very good stallion. If you want to get a good two-year-old or an Ascot winner, even at three as well, he is flying at the moment. It will be interesting to see what Ryan and Aidan say, but he was very impressive today and won snug on the line.”
Adaay Of Scarlett’s trainer Hugo Palmer said: “You said he is a brilliant little horse, and you are right, he is not big. Interestingly, his girth size today was two holes bigger than last time, so he is growing and developing. I think he does have a future. He is just so tough, balanced and strong. Second is frustrating, I thought we had got there, but the winner was very good.”
He added: “He is in the Phoenix, and I will look at it. It will be the Phoenix or the Gimcrack; I would not have thought we would do both. The Gimcrack is probably favourite, but we won the Phoenix with Ebro River, who was [fourth] in this race in his year. We have taken the bloods off this horse, we have planned as if we are going to go to the Phoenix, and I will keep an eye on it. Probably the Gimcrack is the more sensible one.” |
