Henri Matisse earnt quotes of 10/1 with Paddy Power for next year’s 2000 Guineas after a professional winning performance in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Wootton Bassett colt was slow to start under jockey Wayne Lordan and dwelt in the rear during the early stages, but showed a dazzling turn of foot when asked to accelerate in the closing furlong. He came from last to first, switching left before powering home for a half-length success over Kevin Ryan's The Strikin Viking. The Adrian Murray-trained Arizona Blaze finished a further three-and-a-quarter lengths behind.
Henri Matisse is a beautifully bred colt out of multiple Group 1 winning miler Immortal Verse, and connections are hoping he will relish a step up in trip later in the season.
"We're delighted with him. We thought he was a bit too babyish to go to Ascot and Wayne said he's still babyish," said O'Brien.
"He said he'll love going up to seven and we might go up to seven next, we'll see what's there for the Phoenix Stakes.
"He's a lovely horse, tries very hard and is very genuine. He has an unbelievable pedigree."
He went on: "I'd say he could be (a National Stakes horse), that's exactly what I'd say he is.
"That was a Group Two and if he was to go again you'd have to look at either the Futurity or the Phoenix. If he was staying at six it's the Phoenix and if he's going to seven it would be the Futurity on the way to the National.
"We haven't leaned on the colts at all yet. Probably from now on they'll hopefully start arriving."
Stable jockey Ryan Moore could only get as close as fourth aboard stablemate Tunbridge Wells and O'Brien was quick to take the blame.
"That was my fault really. I thought he was a bit more forward and a bit harder," he said.
"It was hard to assess this horse after the last day, he made very hard work of winning. Obviously I put Ryan on the wrong one, but I do plenty of that!
"Ryan's horse will be fine, he maybe didn't travel as strongly as I thought he would and he maybe wants better ground. Maybe he needs to grow up a little bit."
