Charlie Appleby looks to have yet another exciting prospect on his hands after Aomori City overcame trouble in running en-route to landing the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Aomori City's task was made somewhat easier when Aidan O'Brien withdrew market leader The Parthenon due to quickening ground conditions this morning, but Charlie Appleby's charge still had plenty of work to do, with six exciting prospects standing in his way.
The son of Oasis Dream created a big impression at Nottingham on debut before emerging with plenty of credit back in third in the July Stakes at Newmarket.
Confidently ridden towards the rail from stall one by William Buick, Aomori City proved the step up to seven furlongs well within his compass at Goodwood on Tuesday when quickening clear in fine style despite encountering trouble in running.
The Hugo Palmer-trained Wolf Of Badenoch, who made a winning debut at Doncaster, looked to throw down a challenge towards the outside, but he was never able to match the finishing kick of the 2/1 winner, who drew clear for a one-and-three-quarter length success. Cool Hoof Luke finished back in third.
Paddy Power introduced the winner at 33/1 for the 2000 Guineas next season, but a trip to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf could be a more prominent target for Appleby's latest group winner, although the Moulton Park paddocks handler was keen to stress options will stay open.
"We had toyed with the idea of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for him over the past couple of weeks. Al Qudra went and won on Saturday and he's probably a horse we'll pinpoint towards that race - it doesn't mean we can't run two in it. We'll keep all options open for him," said Appleby, who was claiming the prize for the second time having saddled juvenile star Pinatubo to success in 2019.
He added: "On the evidence of what we saw in the July Stakes, we thought coming into this race that stepping up to seven would suit, and he cut it at a decent level there. Today was a marked improvement on what we saw [before]. He was neat - he had to be brave there; he got tightened up on the turns, and that does no harm in educating them towards the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
"When you watch him at home, he's not a workhorse. In the past couple of weeks, we've had horses who are working over him, like Al Qudra and a couple of maidens, but they are working out at a decent level themselves, so he's not doing much wrong."
It was a first success in the Group 2 prize for jockey William Buick, who said: "Being where we were was always the plan, but we just had to tussle for our position at the top of the hill and round the turn, which just gave a bit of pressure, but he was very brave and got stuck in."
Buick continued: "He's a pretty well-seasoned two-year-old and knows his job, which is always a help round here. I was really pleased with his performance - he sort of does what he has to in front, but I thought he won well, and I think he'll improve."
