It's Sendawar's misfortune that potential often excites racing folk more than the proven. The Aga Khanowned colt added yesterday's St James's Palace Stakes to his French 2,000 Guineas success in great style, and all everybody wanted to talk about was an adolescent two-year-old having just his third run. But what a run it was.
Fasliyev, a second Royal Ascot victory for Aidan O'Brien, kept his unbeaten record with a sauntering victory in the Coventry Stakes, and was immediately installed as a starry-eyed 8 to 1 favourite with Victor Chandler for next year's 2,000 Guineas and heralded what could be one of the strongest crops of two-year-olds to emerge from Ballydoyle.
Appropriately the old master of Ballydoyle, Vincent O'Brien, was present to see Fasliyev and also the beaming satisfaction on the face of the new master of Ballydoyle. The satisfaction surely was in knowing that Fasliyev is a smart colt among many and, perhaps crucially, has proved it outside Ireland. Asked if Fasliyev was his best juvenile, O'Brien replied: "I don't know. There are 60 of them there and those that have run won their maidens very easily. I wouldn't like to make comparisons. Bernstein looks very special as well. When they were yearlings the lads said they were a very good bunch and it was the same when they were first ridden."
Hills took the Bernstein hint and made him 16 to 1 joint favourite with Fasliyev for the Guineas, but Fasliyev has now proven Group-winning form against the best Britain has thrown up so far this season.
Despite being drawn wide, the Nureyev colt was soon prominent. Michael Kinane gradually eased him across the field and pressed the button at the two furlong pole. Behind him, Sir Nicholas met with some trouble and Olivier Peslier lost his whip, although it made no difference as Kinane nudged Fasliyev clear by two and a half lengths.
"Distance will not be a problem to him," O'Brien added. "He will go seven or eight furlongs. He is a big, strong horse who knows his strength and uses it on you, but he has a lovely temperament." Fasliyev was also a welcome boost for Ballydoyle on the day as Orpen never fired, eventually winding up only ninth of 11. "He was tightened up and got no sort of run early on," forgave O'Brien, although Sendawar looked a meritorious winner.
The heavily backed Killer Instinct lost his chance when clipping heels on the turn in, but soon after Gerald Mosse had guided Sendawar to the outside of Aljabr.
It was a first British Group One success for the Aga Khan since his return to racing here and a first ever British winner for trainer Alain de Royer Dupre. "I rode a confident race because I knew I was on the best horse," Mosse said. "He has beaten the best in France and England and is for sure a champion."
Michael Kinane had earlier sprang a 20 to 1 shock on David Elsworth's Lear Spear in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, bursting through to hold Gary Stevens on Fantastic Light. The American had been brilliant earlier though on Godolphin's Cape Cross who short-headed Docksider in the last stride of the Queen Anne.
