‘Banker material' Aidan O'Brien horse banned from Royal Ascot backed off the boards for next race
Two-year-old colt Italy is all the rage for Saturday's Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.
1
Italy was hugely impressive when overcoming inexperience to score at 4-9 on debut at Leopardstown in May.
Those who watched said at the time they were confident the horse 'wins wherever he goes' next time out.
The form has been boosted massively too, with 16-1 runner-up Thesecretadversary finishing second in the Chesham at Royal Ascot.
Italy was blocked from running in that race because it is only for two-year-olds whose sire won over 10f.
Italy, who cost 200,000 guineas and is by Wootton Basset out of a sister to O'Brien's Derby winner Serpentine, hasn't run since his awesome debut.
But he is all set to tear up the Superlative - and follow in the hoofsteps of former O'Brien superstars City Of Troy and Gustav Klimt.
O'Brien said Moore doesn't make his mind up on who he will ride until five minutes before the cut-off time of 1pm.
But in an unusual move, Moore has already been jocked up on Italy for the 7f Group 2.
It is a particularly interesting development because O'Brien also has £350,000 Dorset in the race too - although he is unlikely to run.
Bookies initially went 11-10 Italy but he has been backed off the boards since and is now as short as 8-13.
Italy is already 12-1 favourite for next year's Derby but that price could collapse if he demolishes rivals this weekend.
Godolphin's No1 trainer Charlie Appleby has fired some good ones at the Superlative in recent years as well.
Former champion two-year-old and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas are among the winners.
He is set to run Saba Desert this year - a winner at Sandown on debut last month.
But the son of Dubawi out of a Sea The Stars mare is nowhere near as strong in the market as Italy.
Speaking after his first run, O'Brien was clearly trying to temper expectations but couldn't hide his delight.
He said: "He won his maiden very well at Leopardstown and he is a colt that we always liked at home.
"We have been happy with him since then.
'He was green when he ran at Leopardstown, but we liked him before the race, and he will improve again from that. I was more than happy with the performance.
'The form has been given a boost as the runner-up put in a good solid run to finish second last time out in the Chesham at Ascot."
.
Remember to gamble responsibly
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wales' sisters doing it for themselves (and Nant)
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Scotland v WalesVenue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 23 August Kick-off: 14:45 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and BBC Sounds You will be hard pushed to find a prouder rugby club in Wales right now than Nant north Wales club has produced not just one but two sets of sisters for Wales women's 2025 Rugby World Cup and Branwen Metcalfe have been named alongside Gwenllian and Alaw Pyrs in Sean Lynn's 32-player group which will kick-off their campaign against Scotland later this while the Pyrs sisters are getting used to packing down together, it will be a new experience for the Metcalfes, with Wales Under-20s captain Branwen yet to make her senior debut. "I'm lost for words to be honest, everything that's happened in the past year has been a whirlwind," said Branwen."I haven't trained much with the squad yet, but it's been really great coming into this environment, I'm learning a lot as I go."Everyone is really nice and it's nice to come in as a young player with all these experienced players."Asked who she looks up to in the camp, Branwen said: "Definitely Al Cal [Alex Callender] and Kate Williams, they're just role models, the way they play, the way they talk, I just want to be like them."Hopefully I can make a breakthrough at some point, I'm just trying to learn at this time."Nel said she was delighted for her not so little sister."The family is buzzing," she said."People have asked 'how do you feel?'. I couldn't be prouder. I've seen how hard she has worked, she deserves this."I would say I do look out for her [in camp] and check she's ok, but she can handle herself, everyone has been pretty welcoming." Humble beginnings Wales is no stranger to having siblings run out together, Horgan twins Claire and Louise both won international honours against France in two sets of sisters is something quite special, even more so when they all come from the same grassroots Alaw, Nel and Branwen all got their start at Nant Conwy, a community rugby club nestled between the villages of Llanrwst and Trefriw."They are always so supportive of us whatever we do," said Nel."It's just everything about Nant, it's not just a club, it's the whole community, everyone knows each other."That sense of belonging is underlined by Branwen: "Growing up we were probably there every day," the younger Metcalfe adds."The club has been such a big part of, not just our journey, but our whole family. It's really nice that we can do this together."The siblings will find out if they will play alongside each other when Wales announces its team to face Scotland next Thursday. Nant Conwy RFC chairman Marc Jones said it was with a "heartfelt sincerity" that they celebrated the success of their former players."Congratulations to the girls, their achievements are down to their total dedication and commitment," he said."Their success is intrinsically linked to their coaches, staff and our whole club ethos. "Being part of the Nant Conwy community, it was only a matter of time that major representation was achieved. They will through their achievements, I'm sure, be a catalyst for all of our players moving forward."Tudor Roberts leads the girls section, Ceirw Nant, and he too is "immensely proud" of the girls for making the Wales squad from "humble beginnings". "It certainly spurs the young ones on, and shows that the pathway is there and through hard work and commitment it is possible," he said. "We wish them all the best of luck and will be cheering them on for sure."The standard of girls rugby in north Wales has bloomed, with quality games being played weekly. It's only a matter of time before more girls from north Wales start putting their hand up for selection."
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
'A no-brainer to come here and I'm loving it'
Ethan Galbraith says he already feels at home at Swansea City having made a bright start to life at the Championship club following his summer move from Leyton paid about £1.5m to land Northern Ireland midfielder Galbraith having first tried to sign him during the January transfer has made an instant impression at his new club, having played a starring role in Tuesday's Carabao Cup win over Crawley Town and been one of Alan Sheehan's better performers at Middlesbrough last the 24-year-old believes the decision to move to Wales is already paying off."I am loving it - the lads have really helped me settle in," Galbraith said."I think there was talk [of a move] in January. It didn't happen but they came back in the summer so for me [for Swansea] to show the interest again, it was a no-brainer."Former Manchester United youngster Galbraith had loan spells with Doncaster and Salford before joining Orient in scored 11 goals in 96 games for the London club, with May's League One play-off final defeat to Charlton proving to be his final appearance for the O's. "Credit to Orient - it's an unbelievable club. They looked after me and it was a great two years," Galbraith added."But now I am a Swansea player and I am looking forward to what's to come. I felt it was the right time to test myself [in the Championship]."The versatile Galbraith, who scored his first Swansea goal in the Crawley win, has already been deployed as a deep-lying midfielder and in a more advanced central role in his brief Swansea says he is happiest in the centre of the pitch, though he is also an option at right-back having played there at times for can expect to retain his midfield place as Swansea target a first league win of the new season when Sheffield United – who were thrashed at home by Bristol City in their league opener - visit on Saturday."The result we had last weekend and the result they had, both teams will be trying to bounce back," Galbraith said."It will be a great game and hopefully we can come out on the right side of it."
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newport must hit high standards at Grimsby
Newport County cannot let their standards drop when they travel to Grimsby Town in League Two, says boss David Exiles have made a promising start to life under Hughes by taking four points from two league games, drawing with Notts County and winning at Crawley also beat Barnet on penalties in the Carabao Cup before putting in a spirited performance when knocked out 1-0 by Championship Millwall on who left his role as Manchester United Under-21s coach for the job this summer, is encouraged by what he has seen in advance of Saturday's fixture at Blundell Park (15:00 BST)."The reaction from the supporters was really positive around the levels of intent and purpose in our play, that's really important that the crowd are with us," said the manager after the Millwall game."That's the benchmark for us, we need to know when we start a game what the expectations are and the standards that underpin the performance."Newport made eight changes to their XI to face Millwall and were also boosted by the return from injury of defender or midfielder Ciaran Brennan and winger Michael Spellman off the have made an unbeaten start to the season with an opening day 3-0 win over Crawley, 3-3 draw at Harrogate and 3-1 cup win against Shrewsbury on Tuesday.
