‘Special’ Aidan O’Brien horse obliterated in odds for Guineas after going from nothing to Group 1 winner in nine days
AIDAN O’BRIEN’S ‘special’ horse had his odds slashed for the 2,000 Guineas after bolting up in a Group 1 only eight days after making his debut.
Twain first hit the track as a 28-1 shot in a maiden at Leopardstown under a little-known three-pound claimer and impressively bolted up six lengths clear.
The Ballydoyle genius then supplemented him for the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in France just over a week later, only for him to repeat the favour under Ryan Moore.
He fended off challenges from O’Brien’s other runner Mount Kilimanjaro and the 3-5 favourite Maranoa Charlie – the only French hope in the six-runner race.
While it was not the strongest of Group 1s, the latest Coolmore sensation has gone to 14-1 with Paddy Power and 8-1 with Unibet for the Newmarket Classic.
And only four other horses are ahead of him in the ante-post betting – O’Brien’s The Lion in Winter and Expanded, then Appleby’s Shadow of Light and Ruling Court.
Following the race, O’Brien said: “Anyone who saw him thought he was special.
“We thought the second and third were decent horses and Twain quickened and left them. What he did was different.
“It probably wasn’t fair to him, he only ran eight days ago.
“He’s always been highly rated and we ran him last week just in case what happened did happen, as we knew we had to give him a chance and there was only one Group 1 left.
“He’s obviously a very good horse, but Ryan said he was very green. He said he jumped very smartly and then he went to sleep.
“He said he got there too early and was very green when he got there.”
THE SUN RACING MEMBERS ENCLOSURE
The only place to get Templegate’s tips first – and at the best prices – is by joining Sun Racing’s brilliant Members Enclosure.
Sign up now for just £1* to be part of racing’s best winning team and get…
- Four free racing tickets, four times a year – worth £300
- Templegate’s daily tips at the BEST prices before anyone else
- Tomorrow’s copy of The Favourite at 9pm today
- Exclusive insights from top trainer Ben Pauling
- VIP competitions from Racing Breaks each month
- New customer offer with Coral
Become a member today for just £1*
*For the first month then £3 per month thereafter.
18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact help@thesun.co.uk
“He’s quick and is obviously a Guineas horse so we’ll wrap him up for the winter now. Ryan gave him a beautiful ride, he minded him as much as he could while teaching him as much as he could.
“He’s a very good mover and he points his toe, so he’d have to be better on a better surface.
“He’s obviously got a big engine but he’s a baby. He was ducking at the cone on his way to the start and I was afraid this might be too much for him, but there’s only one Criterium and it’s the race which was left for him.”
Twain has also shot into the upper echelons of the Derby market, with Unibet cranking him in to 14-1 from 33s for the big’un at Epsom.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.