O'Brien Juvenile Charles Darwin Struts Speed in Norfolk

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's dominance of the Royal Ascot juvenile contests continued after Charles Darwin (IRE) stormed to victory in the June 19 Norfolk Stakes (G2). The No Nay Never colt was sent off odds-on and was briefly challenged by American Sandal's Song and longshot Ameeq (IRE), but he exerted his class over the pair to pull clear under Ryan Moore by 2 1/4 lengths over a Godolphin's rallying juvenile Wise Approach (IRE). "He's a very, very fast horse," O'Brien said. "He's big and mature and has a very good mind, so he's very exciting. We were actually hoping he would get a lead—he's very quick and he'd be happy to get a lead. "Ryan obviously does his own thing always; when the gates open, he decides, and he was very happy with him. He said he powered to the line. We couldn't be happier." The impressive victory resulted in Charles Darwin becoming the first favorite to land the five-furlong contest since South Central's success in 2008, and he enhanced the glowing reputation of Ballydoyle juveniles at this week's meeting following on from wins by stablemate Gstaad (GB) in the Coventry Stakes (G2) and True Love (IRE) in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2). The win was the third success in four starts for Charles Darwin, who similarly made all when striking on his second start at Navan and again at Naas last month. He looks to be yet another star sprinter in the making out of dam Muirin (IRE), who also foaled dual group 1 winner Blackbeard (IRE). Charles Darwin races for the Coolmore-affiliated Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg. "He's very professional and has a super attitude," Moore said of Charles Darwin. "He jumped very quickly, showed good speed. I was just trying to control him the best I could. They came to me about two and a half furlongs out, and I asked him to go, and he picked up well." Sandal's Song, who won the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park last month in his only other start, held third under Australian rider James McDonald, beaten three lengths. The George Weaver-trained chestnut son of Mendelssohn, bred in Kentucky by Hunter Valley Farm and Tony Hegarty and owned by Wathnan Racing, threatened down the center of the course and checked in three-quarters of a length behind runner-up Wise Approach. Case Clay, the United States racing manager to Wathnan Racing, felt Sandal's Song gave a "valiant effort." "He was beaten by a very, very good horse, but we're very happy with the effort," he said. "We're going to take him back to the U.S. and we're going to try and get to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, with a race or two maybe in between." With the Norfolk part of the Breeders' Cup Challenger Series: Win and You're In, Charles Darwin earned a paid, automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) this fall at Del Mar.