DONCASTER // Reputations are regularly shattered in Group 1s but Camelot's grew exponentially larger as Aidan O'Brien's latest sensation took Doncaster's Racing Post Trophy with consummate ease.
O'Brien won the British season's final top-level two-year-old race for the sixth time and such was the manner of this performance, Camelot is now strongly fancied for next year's Investec Derby.
St Nicholas Abbey shone at Town Moor on this day two years ago but then failed in the Classics, although that should not deflect the impact of the promise of his stablemate. The Montjeu colt made his only previous appearance 100 days earlier when beating a handful of ordinary rivals in a Leopardstown maiden.
The trainer's son, Joseph, sat motionless at the back of the field, allowing his four rivals a scent of glory before switching to the rail and letting Camelot stride past them.
"The data we were getting from him at home was showing up as something out of the ordinary," said Aidan O'Brien.
"Although you are only reading that stuff, he still had to come here today and prove it. When the lads saw him [beforehand] they started thinking he might be something we hadn't seen before and he came to hand so quickly.
"The only worry was the trainer might run him too often and destroy him.
"Joseph said he never had to get him near to top gear.
Zip Top, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Fencing, were second and third respectively and two-and-a-quarter lengths behind.
"The winner is obviously a very smart horse. Our horse has run a good race, and I think he'll find improvement into next year," said Jim Bolger, Zip Top's renowned Co Carlow trainer from Ireland.
Fencing's trainer, John Gosden, added: "We've been beaten by an exceptional horse who was in a class of his own."
Bolger later conceded he may have worked with Zip Top for the final time with Dubai his next likely destination.
"I don't think it will be up to me. I'd imagine he'll be going to Dubai and it will be up to the people at Darley."
