Finally, The Lion In Winter is getting some respect. He was the third choice on his debut, second in the market here, and now he is favorite for next year's Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Epsom Derby (G1).
Such was the impression The Lion In Winter created in smashing the track record on his step up in class in the Acomb Stakes (G3) Aug. 21.
He had been an apparent Aidan O'Brien second-stringer when scoring first time out under Wayne Lordan at the Curragh last month and was no match for Godolphin's impressive Sandown winner Ruling Court in the betting here.
So much for following the money.
The Lion In Winter was always traveling strongly for Ryan Moore, who wasn't going to miss him this time, went on fully three furlongs out and scored by a 1 3/4 lengths from Wimbledon Hawkeye, with the favorite another half-length back in third.
The Sea The Stars colt took 0.75 seconds off the course record and was instituted as the 8-1 favorite for the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby by Coral.
O'Brien said: "He's always been a lovely, straightforward, uncomplicated horse. We came here because we wanted to give him experience before he went back to the Goffs Million.
"We felt it could be sharp enough for him but he hit the gates well and Ryan had him in a lovely position. He didn't even touch him with the stick. He broke the track record so obviously he's a very smart colt. We couldn't be happier.
"The seven furlongs around here is a quick seven furlongs but he has loads of class. You'd have to be very impressed with him. You'd have to like everything he's doing at the moment."
The antepost oddsmakers clearly like it too and O'Brien is optimistic about the colt's future.
"It looked a good Acomb," he said. "Looking at him, he should have no problem staying at seven, he'd go up to a mile and you'd imagine he'll be a middle-distance horse next year and could even get further."
James Owen was happy to split the two market principals with Wimbledon Hawkeye and said: "I'd have taken that coming here, I would've been delighted if he came in the first three.
"I know he was against horses who've had just one run and it was his third, but he's come on a lot."
Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam admitted to having hoped for more with Ruling Court and said: "He hasn't totally disgraced himself but, at face value, he was disappointing.
"He traveled into it quite well but then flattened out. It might turn out he was beaten by a better horse."
By virtue of his victory in the Acomb, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, The Lion In Winter earned an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
