Joseph O'Brien joining forces with Juddmonte was always going to prove fruitful and Monogram, who was the combination's first winner from their second runner, has the opportunity to seal a remarkable start to the partnership in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) Sept. 13 at the Curragh.
The Kingman colt was heavily backed on debut last month and those who took low odds would have been sweating plenty given he was last of 16 at the halfway mark of the 7-furlong contest and ran green under pressure. But Monogram produced a spectacular finishing effort to emerge a short head to the good over Salt Lake with the first two pulling nearly 4 lengths clear.
It was arguably the most impressive maiden performance of the season, and the winner was supplemented for this assignment on the back of it. But while he looked special on debut, this is a big ask in his second start, particularly given his main rivals have built up some valuable experience.
One of those is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Giant Sequoia, who has a big reputation at Ballydoyle and got off the mark over course and distance in his maiden race in impressive style.
However, he was not overly impressive when defeating stablemate Florida Bay, who should ensure this is a good test, in the Futurity Stakes (G2) here last time, but he shaped as if he would learn plenty and seems to have a lot of class.
Dr Rascal beat subsequent Acomb Stakes (G3) winner and the reopposing Haffner in the Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood Racecourse last time and has an attitude to match his talent. The unbeaten son of Sottsass extended his winning run to three in the Vintage and is hard to knock.
Jockey Kaiya Fraser, who has ridden Dr Rascal in all three of his starts for trainer Oliver Cole, is extremely humble for the mount.
"I'm very grateful to the Rosier family and Mr. Cole to entrust me with the ride," he said. "I had my first ride for Mr. Cole on Dr Rascal at Leicester and he was a winner and it's gone from there. The horse is now in a group 1, and things can change when you get to that level, but I'm incredibly grateful to be kept on him."
Of the rest, Monogram's stablemate Folsom Blues makes plenty of each-way appeal. The Blue Point colt was unlucky not to run Florida Bay closer in the Tyros Stakes (G3) with the winner getting the run of the race. However, he ran a cracker behind the high-class Sun Goddess in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) last time over a trip short of his best. Back up to 7 furlongs, he is a big player.
The Vincent O'Brien National Stakes is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In race with the victor getting an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Oct. 30 at Keeneland.
