Charles Darwin shows class in Antarctic Race at Naas
Charles Darwin justified short odds in the Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Race over five furlongs at Naas to stay on course for a trip to Royal Ascot.
Debutant Cardiff By The Sea, a 320,000 guineas buy at the breeze-up sales, briefly threatened to make a race of it at the furlong pole, but the 1-14 favourite ultimately sprinted clear to prevail by three and a quarter lengths under Ryan Moore.
The son of No Nay Never is a full-brother to Prix Morny and Middle Park victor Blackbeard and was a fourth straight winner of this race for Aidan O'Brien, with subsequent Coventry Stakes scorer River Tiber among the previous trio.
Having already got off the mark at Navan three weeks ago, Charles Darwin remains the ante-post market leader for Ascot's Norfolk Stakes next month.
"We're very happy, he just needed a nice sharp bit. Obviously the plan is to go to Ascot with him and it was nice to do it on lovely ground," said O'Brien.
"Ryan was very happy with him, he's still babyish and I suppose he's been doing everything so easy. Obviously when he goes to Ascot, he won't have much time for learning.
"Hopefully that will have done the job and we'll just look after him between now and then."
When asked if the Norfolk was the target, he added: "Probably. That could change, it will depend on what the lads want to do, but I'd imagine it's very likely.
"Albert Einstein might run next weekend and we always thought he could be a Coventry horse, we thought this could be a Norfolk horse but he needed to learn. He was green and babyish and he has to be just caught hold of today. That's why we were here with him and we're delighted."
Copacabana Sands (18-5) gained compensation for an unlucky run at Leopardstown last time when storming home to claim the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes over seven furlongs for Michael O'Callaghan.
Market leader One Smack Mac made a bold bid from the front but could not resist the winner's final flourish, with Jamie Powell getting his mount up by half a length.
"Luckily, Jamie manoeuvred his way out," said O'Callaghan. "To be fair to him for riding his first stakes winner, and to be an apprentice still with a claim, he was very cool and gave her a great ride.
"He pulled his stick through at the right time when he got out and she's hit the line strong.
"She jumped and travelled and everything panned out exactly how he said he wanted to ride her.
"It's a huge day for the filly as she has a nice pedigree and now she's broke her maiden in a Listed race.
"She's shown that she has ability before now. We only picked her up in February and she's done nothing but go from strength to strength, and improve."
One Smack Mac's connections, Ger Lyons and Colin Keane, enjoyed better fortune as Beckman upset odds-on favourite Mississippi River in the Royal Ascot Trials At Naas Handicap, powering past in the latter stages of the mile contest to oblige by two and a half lengths at 7-2.
"It was a nice surprise, I was disappointed with the previous one getting his pocket picked. They are very similar horses," said Lyons.
"I thought that was a nice effort, I loved how he quickened away when he got the gap. He's a fun horse to have, honest as the day is long, so we'll enjoy him."
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