Air Force Blue faces a date with destiny in today's QIPCO 2, 000 Guineas at Newmarket with the season's first classic apparently at his mercy.
The colt acclaimed by Aidan O’Brien as the best two year old he’s ever handled after three Group One victories in 2015 is odds-on to emulate O’Brien’s seven previous Guineas winners by scoring up the famous Rowley Mile on his first race of the season.
Ireland’s champion trainer also has an outstanding favourite for Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas in Minding, plus two other contenders for the fillies classic.
But Coolmore Stud’s commercial stallion priorities means the focus is resolutely on Air Force Blue.
Clear of his dozen rivals on official ratings, and bolstered by notably bullish “monster” reports on his homework this Spring, the son of War Front is already past the post according to many pundits.
However as well as legendary winners, the Rowley Mile is also littered with the history of flying two year old champions prematurely anointed classic winners.
Some of them have emerged from Ballydoyle and even the 12 years since One Cool Cat’s epic Guineas flop don’t prevent some shivering at the memory.
Those desperate to take on Air Force Blue may cling to the fact he sports a first-time tongue-strap as reason for hope but it looks a faint one considering the evidence suggests a lack of quality depth to this year’s race.
Ground conditions won't be perfect for the favourite, although they should be okay for Jim Bolger's hope, Herald The Dawn, but it will still be a major surprise if Air Force Blue doesn't confirm his juvenile brilliance in a classic.
Pat Smullen rides Marcel in the 2,000 and skips four Sligo rides on Sunday for Dermot Weld – all of whom look to hold leading chances – in order to ride Illuminate in the 1,000.
Five Irish fillies in total line up but with Minding set to start a short price, there could be value in the French hope, Midweek, whose trainer has won the race on four occasions.
