THE exciting Battleground outgunned a smart field to win the Vintage Stakes on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt bolted up at Royal Ascot and followed up in tremendous fashion in this Group 2 under Ryan Moore.
Paddy Power make him the 8-1 favourite for next season’s 2000 Guineas – and on this evidence he looks every inch a Classic contender.
By War Front and out of the wonder mare Found, he is certainly bred for the job and he cruised into contention despite a wide trip.
He quickly drew clear with Devious Company, who was a good second in Group 2 company last time out, and brushed him aside in the final furlong to win going away by two lengths.
O’Brien said: “We were very happy with him at home and we just thought it was a lovely race for experience for him. The ground was lovely and safe and I think Ryan was very happy with him.
“We would be thinking his next run would be the National Stakes if everything was well, but he’s a horse we’ve always loved.
“He’s very genuine and a big, powerful horse and that’s the way she (Found) was as well.”
O’Brien reckons the strapping colt is ready for a step up in trip.
He continued: “We thought he would be a miler probably.
Easy peasy for Battleground in the Vintage Stakes
A confident ride from Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien is on the board – go and collect favourite backers!
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— Sun Racing (@SunRacing) July 28, 2020
“He’s got speed, he’s a strong traveller and he is by War Front and out of Found, so we thought he’d get a mile.
“Obviously all our two-year-olds got a little bit messed up at the start of the season, then we had to rush some of them to get to Ascot, so that wasn’t ideal.
“It’s very early for horses yet and an awful lot of horses will come out – some will improve, some will stand still and some will go back.”
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