Ante-Post Update – Telescope plans to be confirmed

On Thursday, Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope finally made his seasonal reappearance having missed the Dante Stakes and the Derby through injury. He only faced two rivals at Leicester but treated them with disdain, opening up a yawning 24-length gap between himself and his nearest pursuer.

No definite plans have yet been announced for Telescope but Coral offered a special price of 7-2 about him winning a Group One before the end of the season. He was trimmed to 6-1 for the St Leger and 16-1 for the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.

Another potential champion is Aidan O’Brien’s American import Darwin who comfortably held Gordon Lord Byron at the Curragh on Saturday. That was only his second start for his new connections and he looks a very exciting prospect for the rest of the season.

He is by Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown and joined O’Brien with a big reputation. Deauville is possibly the next target for the colt but Coral were sufficiently impressed to cut him to 14-1 for the Sussex Stakes.

The Irish Oaks caused little more than a ripple in the Arc betting after French raider Chicquita won despite swerving to her left in the closing stages. The steering problems had been anticipated after she had performed a similar manoeuvre on both of her previous outings but Johnny Murtagh always felt that he had matters under control.

Epsom Oaks winner Talent proved a major disappointment and trailed home in last place whilst Alive Alive Oh was withdrawn owing to the fast ground. Plans for the winner now involved the Prix Vermeille and then the Arc.

Coral reacted by trimming French Oaks winner Treve to 8-1 for the big race in October. She beat Chicquita comfortably, although the runner-up did concede a lot of ground when running across the track in the final two furlongs.

Aidan O’Brien’s Australia won his maiden at the Curragh and earned himself a quote of 25-1 for the 2014 2000 Guineas. The colt has attracted a lot of interest, being by Galileo out of the great mare Ouija Board.