Henry Longfellow took his tally to a perfect three from three with a power-packed performance in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, although his task was made somewhat simpler by the late withdrawal of stablemate and 4/9 favourite City Of Troy.
Less than a couple of hours before post time the short-priced market leader and current 2024 Epsom Derby favourite, City Of Troy, was declared a non-runner with the ground description officially changing from 'good, good to firm in places' to 'good to yielding' after some fairly substantial showers.
As expected, Ballydoyle's retained rider Ryan Moore quickly jumped ship to the unbeaten Henry Longfellow and punters soon latched onto Aidan O'Brien's colt, who was sent off 10/11 to make it a perfect three out of three.
Being by Dubawi out of Coolmore's multiple Group 1-winning Classic mare Minding, Henry Longfellow arrived at Ballydoyle with a lofty reputation, and he was subsequently sent off 5/4 to make a winning debut at the Curragh back in July. He passed that test with flying colours and found the step up to Group 2 company on his next start no issue as he claimed the reopposing Islandinthestream by two lengths in the EBF Futurity Stakes over the same course and distance.
The step up to the top-level awaited the beautifully-bred Ballydoyle inmate and in all truth, victory never looked in doubt at the County Kildare venue this afternoon.
Cuban Thunder led the quartet along with stablemate and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winning Bucanero Fuerte sat behind the pacemaker in second. The ever-cool Moore was happy to track the two AMO Racing-owned colts in third and soon had his sights set on the pair as Henry Longfellow breezed on past to strike the front two furlongs out in a matter of strides. Moore simply had to push his mount out under hands and heels riding to lengthen the gap with the striking son of Dubawi a full five-lengths clear of Islandinthestream, who would once again chase home Aidan O'Brien's exciting prospect.
The Even-money chance Bucanero Fuerte was ultimately disappointing finishing over twelve lengths behind the emphatic winner back in third, the front-running Cuban Thunder trailing home last of the four.
O'Brien, who was saddling his 4000th career winner with Henry Longfellow, said: "The pedigree of this horse is second to absolutely none. By Dubawi out of the best mare we've ever trained, Minding.
"What he has different is that he quickens. He travels and quickens, which is very hard for other horses to deal with."
On City Of Troy's late deflection from the Group 1 prize, he added: "City Of Troy ran in ground similar to this, maybe not quite as bad, at Newmarket, but he had a long time since he ran and we just felt he was going to improve from the run. And sometimes in that soft ground horses who are going to improve for the run, win lose or draw, they can have a very hard time.
"We knew this horse [Henry Longfellow] ran just a couple of weeks ago and his dam handled the ground no problem, and he had run in it as well. Everyone had been very happy with him, and he looks a very special horse.
"City Of Troy only ever pleases in every way but we said we wouldn't run him on soft ground, and we had to be true to our word."
Henry Longfellow was clipped from 7/2 to 5/1 by Paddy Power for next year's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, with the same firm making him a 6/1 chance for the 2024 Epsom Derby. City Of Troy remains the 5/2 market leader for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next season and 7/2 for the Epsom Derby.
