River Tiber is out on his own © Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien has a Royal Ascot two-year-old on his hands without any shadow of a doubt in the form of River Tiber who blitzed his six rivals in the the two-year-old maiden at Navan.
Scratched from his intended debut at the Curragh last weekend due to heavy ground, the son of Wootton Bassett had no problem handling this soft surface. Having sat behind the leaders, he was shaken up by Ryan Moore to lead over a furlong out and went right away to slam Zona Verde by ten lengths.
Paddy Power gave the winner a quote of 10/1 for the Coventry Stakes.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: "A lovely introduction, he was very impressive. His homework has been strong at home and it is great that he brought the same to the track.
"He's a lovely horse and you love everything about him - athletic, physical and a good mind.
"He's one that could go to the winners' race in Naas or maybe something like the Marble Hill at the Curragh, and then hopefully on to Ascot. Something like the Coventry.
"He's very exciting and another nice horse hopefully for Wootton Bassett.
"It is unfortunate the rain coming today, but Navan is a lovely track to start them. Aidan has brought a lot of good horses here before - we start them here and they have always progressed plenty from it. It is a lovely track and always well presented.
"I suppose his class got him through (the ground), he travelled very strongly and when Ryan asked him to lengthen and pick up, the response was there immediately.
"He has plenty of class and is a lovely horse to look forward to. He has got plenty of speed and travels."
Quotes from Michael Graham
