THERE'S no stopping Irish wizard Aidan O'Brien these days.
Backed by the immensely influential Coolmore Stud, every year he seems to have an embarrassment of riches in the two-year-old division.
This season is no exception and a telling example of the stable's strength-in-depth is demonstrated by the fact O'Brien had no less than nine of the initial 24 entries for this afternoon's Rothman's-sponsored £100,000 Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Of the original nine, just two, Rock Of Gibraltar (3.05) and Wiseman's Ferry, take their place in a race which often has a bearing on the betting for next year's 2000 Guineas.
Rock Of Gibraltar is clearly the yard's number one pick after a smooth-as-silk success in the Gimcrack at York.
He looked magnificent both in the paddock beforehand and in the race when he delivered the sort of Formula One acceleration reserved for only the highest class thoroughbreds.
Just before Rock Of Gibraltar has hopefully strutted his stuff, Darasim (2.35) could help pay the expenses for the meeting by obliging in the £30,000 Mallard Stakes.
Formerly with John Oxx in Ireland, he made his British debut in a listed event at Chester 13 days ago when finishing fourth to Flossy.
The near black three-year-old almost disgraced himself by apparently downing tools early in the contest and becoming detached from the rest of the field.
However, after much vigorous persuasion by Joe Fanning, he grabbed hold of the bit on the final circuit and produced a flying finish to grab fourth spot from an extremely unpromising early position.
Following such antics it's not an earth-shattering surprise to see the blinds applied to Darasim, who being so new to these shores is clearly the "dark" horse of the race.
Since the departure of Aussie Craig Williams from Mick Channon's team, underrated Steve Drowne has come in for even more of the stable's rides.
Drowne was on board Channon's useful colt Cd Europe (4.10) when the pair were pipped by seven-furlong specialist Tumbleweed Ridge at Chepstow last month.
The step up to a mile in the CPL Industries Challenge Trophy might be an even more suitable trip for the selection, who is in with a tremendous chance of taking the £10,00 according to the official ratings.
Simon Dow, who trains just down the road from Epsom racecourse, does not have far to send Zhitomir (3.50) for the £10,000 Sodexho Handicap at his local track.
Although Zhitomir was no match for Encounter over course and distance last time, he still beat the other ten runners with ease. Using some of his juvenile form as a guide, Dow's colt is now pretty well in at the weights and is therefore fancied to go one better.
Policastro (4.50) is an interesting contender for the mile-and-quarter Charity Handicap.
He was due to run in a seller at Lingfield recently, only to be pulled out the day before having actually been declared to run.
Interestingly, John Hills' horses have been in much better fettle of late and Policastro could be an outsider to back in a wide-open heat.
Decent prize money is hard to come by over the jumps, but the loot on offer at Worcester normally holds up respectably well.
George Moore doesn't have too many runners at the Midlands venue so it's pretty reasonable to assume that the Middleham handler has laid out Major Sponsor (4.00) for the Weatherby National Hunt Stallion Book Handicap Chase.
Major Sponsor had a mishap earlier in the summer when he fractured a cheek bone in a fall at Market Rasen.
But all is well now and two miles on perfect ground looks ideal for him.
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