Puerto Rico swoops for second Group One triumph

Puerto Rico enhanced his Classic claims with another brilliant victory in France in the Criterium International.

Aidan O’Brien’s son of Wootton Bassett waited until Doncaster’s Champagne Stakes to open his account but has been unstoppable since.

He dazzled on Arc day in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp before quickly adding a second Group One in impressive fashion at Saint-Cloud, having been supplemented into the race earlier in the week.

Ridden positively by Christophe Soumillon, there was barely a moment of worry for both horse and rider, as he scurried to a cosy length and three-quarters success over Jean-Claude Rouget’s Campacite.

Puerto Rico is Coral’s new 8-1 favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas, while Paddy Power also trimmed him for the Derby, making him 14-1 from 16s.

O’Brien was notching his 24th Group One of the year as he bears down on his own record of 28 and he told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s a lovely horse and is very happy in front. He’s always happy to get a lead but he’s an unusual horse as he has a lot of speed but he stays as well.

“We wanted to see how comfortable he would be over a mile today and Christophe was happy to take a lead if someone else was going to go, but obviously nobody did so he was happy to go on.

“He’s a very classy horse and obviously very good. I think he’s a Guineas horse first then probably a Derby horse.

“He’s uncomplicated, relaxed, quickens and has lots of speed and goes on the ground. He would also be happy on fast ground as we were thinking of taking him to the Breeders’ Cup, so he is obviously a very good horse.”