No Nay Never Colt On Course For Norfolk Stakes

Charles Darwin (2c No Nay Never – Muirin, by Born To Sea) remains favourite for the Norfolk Stakes after winning the Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Race at Naas on Sunday.

Aidan O’Brien’s well-regarded charge certainly made an impression at Navan last month, drawing five and a half lengths clear in a six-furlong maiden, and was sent off a short-priced favourite when dropping down to the minimum trip.

Making all under Ryan Moore, the bay was ridden when challenged after the two-furlong pole and quickened smartly to assert inside the final furlong. He kept on top beat newcomer Cardiff By The Sea (St Mark’s Basilica) by three and a quarter lengths, with the same margin separating the second and third.

“We’re very happy,” O’Brien later commented. “Ryan was very happy with him, he’s still babyish and I suppose he’s been doing everything so easy.”

On whether the Norfolk Stakes remains Charles Darwin’s target, the trainer replied: “Probably and that could change; it will depend on what the lads want to do but I’d imagine it’s very likely.

“Albert Einstein might run next weekend and we always thought he could be a Coventry horse, we thought this could be a Norfolk horse but he needed to learn. He was green and babyish and he has to be just caught hold of today. That’s why we were here with him and we’re delighted.”

A full-brother to top-class two-year-old Blackbeard (No Nay Never), Charlies Darwin was bred by Newstead Breeding and is owned by Coolmore partners with Westerberg.