Saxon Warrior evens favourite for the Derby after O'Brien affair secures 2,000 Guineas glory

Donnacha O'Brien, just 19, rode his father's Saxon Warrior to a stunning victory in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, the first showpiece of the flat-racing season.

And the best could still be to come at Epsom in just 26 days time.

Dad was absent from Newmarket, watching big hope Mendelssohn in the Kentucky Derby. Considered the best chance of a European winner in the 144-year history of America's most celebrated race, he finished dead flat last in sodden conditions.

But, 6,500 miles away under brilliant blue skies, his dynasty was still continuing to grow. Following in the footsteps of elder brother Joseph, now a leading dual-purpose trainer, the teenage O'Brien produced a nerveless ride on the unbeaten colt to leave his proud mum in tears.

Once he hit the front, everyone else was playing for second place and Dad's ninth triumph in the colts' showpiece was in the bank.

Roger Teal's 50-1 chance Tip Two Win produced a blinding run to finish second, while the Charlie Appleby-trained favourite Masar, the winner of the Craven Stakes, was third ahead of Frankel sire Elarqam.

"I thought I was the winner the whole way but I probably got a bit excited, I gave him a squeeze and got there too early," said O'Brien.

"He travelled beautifully and he's a very good and proper horse.

"I'm thankful to the owners for believing in me and Dad for putting his faith in me. I'm winning this race and riding in big races because of the position I'm in and I'm so grateful."

Brother Joseph famously rode his father's Camelot to victory in the 2,000 Guineas and Derby six years ago, the last horse to do the double in the first two colts classics of the year.

And Saxon Warrior is now odds-on to deliver in Epsom in just under a month - with no doubt he'll get the extra four furlongs too.

"I would say he'll go straight to the Derby now," said co-owner Michael Tabor.

"I'd rather be a backer than a layer. Others will come out of the woodwork but they will have to be good to beat this one.

"It's a few weeks to the Derby and you can never count your chickens. However, if we arrive there with all things equal, he would have a favourite's chance."

Last year O'Brien won four of the five English classics, with only John Gosden's Enable denying him the clean sweep in the Oaks.

He will now look to complete the Guineas double for fifth time in his career, following success in 2005, 2012, 2015 and last year, when Churchill's 2000 Guineas win was followed by Winter's success in the fillies race one day later.

O'Brien had hoped to run long-time ante-post favourite Clemmie but a training setback means she'll be saved at home for future targets.

However, Happily leads Ballydoyle's five-strong charge having won four of her seven juvenile starts, though disappointing on her most recent appearance at the Breeders' Cup.

But in-form Godolphin trainer Appleby, buoyed by Masar's finish in the 2000 Guineas, holds a powerful double hand to upset what is fast becoming the established order in the Qipco British Champions Series race.

Wild Illusion won impressively at Chantilly last October while connections paid £30,000 to supplement Soliloquy after her win in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket at the Craven meeting.

That race hasn't produced a 1000 Guineas winner since Speciosa's success 12 years ago but stable jockey William Buick has elected to ride Soliloquy and is feeling bullish.

"It was a hard pick between the two of them but Soliloquy developed well over the winter and won the Nell Gwyn well," said Buick,

"I think they'll both run very well. It's great for the team to go into a Classic with two live chances."

Sportsbeat 2018