No Nay Never Colt Proves Too Good In Norfolk Stakes

Ballydoyle and Coolmore sires made it three from three in the two-year-old Group races at Royal Ascot when Charles Darwin (2c No Nay Never – Muirin, by Born To Sea) made all to win the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt made a promising debut before winning his maiden impressively and followed up in fine style at Naas last month. Sent off favourite on Thursday, Coolmore and Westerberg-owned bay broke smartly and blazed along under Ryan Moore. Ridden approaching the final furlong, he was never headed and ran on to score by two and a quarter lengths.

O’Brien’s post-race comments reflected the impressive nature of Charles Darwin’s win, as the trainer said: “He's a very, very fast horse. He's big, mature and has a very good mind as well. He really looks like a four-year-old racing against two-year-olds and he's very exciting.”

“Ryan said he powered through the line. He's a sprinter and I don't know how far he's going to get because of his speed. The Breeders' Cup is a long way off but we think he's very quick so he could well end up going that way.”

Moore painted the No Nay Never colt in a similar light, saying: “He's a very professional horse. He jumped very quick, showed good speed and I was just trying to control him the best I could.

“They came to me about two and a half furlongs out, but I asked him to go and he picked up well. He's got a good brain and is obviously a very mature, very strong two-year-old.”

Bred by Newstead Breeding, the son of No Nay Never is a full-brother to top-class two-year-old Blackbeard.