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22 May 2017

Aidan O’Brien thrilled with return of Caravaggio at Naas

Caravaggio looks happy enough with his work at Naas on Sunday. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Caravaggio is hot favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next month after a dazzling reappearance win in the Group 3 EMS Copiers Lacken Stakes at Naas on Sunday.

The unbeaten Aidan O’Brien-trained colt showed a great turn of foot to win by almost five lengths from Psychedelic Funk and seems certain to make an impact in this year’s QIPCO British Champions Series – not least because the trainer said he was not in peak condition.

“He’s an unbelievably quick horse,” O’Brien said. “I’ve never seen a quicker horse and that’s why we went this way with him.

“He’s showed nothing to say he wouldn’t get a mile,” O’Brien said. “We worked him seven furlongs and the petrol gauge never shifted, but I was afraid that he was so quick that it would be the wrong thing to do.

“We could train him for a mile and go back, but we didn’t want to lose the brilliance.

“He was carrying plenty and was a good bit above what he was last year. A long way above. You couldn’t be happier.”

Caravaggio is 6-4 with most bookmakers for the Commonwealth Cup. Blue Point and Harry Angel are next in the betting.