Araafa the Palace ace for Noseda
Newmarket-based Noseda felt his charge had not received the credit he deserved after the colt lowered the colours of George Washington in the Irish 2000 Guineas a little over three weeks ago.
But with that rival absent due to a muscle problem, there can be no doubt over the true star of the show in the mile contest for three-year-olds, as the 2-1 favourite put up a display worthy of any Royal winner.
Kept close to the pace by Alan Munro, Araafa put the race to bed over two furlongs out when stealing a march on the field and crossing the line after a powerful charge with two lengths to spare.
French raider Stormy River (7-2) chased home the winner having come from an impossible position at the rear of the pack, with Ivan Denisovich and Marcus Andronicus leading home an Aidan O’Brien three-four.
Noseda, who stood virtually alone in the centre of a sun-soaked parade ring to shout home his brilliant winner, said: “He never looked like he was going to get beat and it was a great performance.
“When he kicked on it was all over.
“He keeps progressing and his work has improved again since Ireland. I was just a little edgy, hoping he would show that on the racecourse, and I think we saw that.
“I went to Ireland – not just for the sake of running – and he did the job there, and I hope he will get the credit he deserves now.
“I read the papers after the Irish Guineas and I was mortified as all the talk was of George Washington, so I looked on this as a chance for people to give him credit.”
Following an average juvenile campaign, Araafa has blossomed this term and Noseda revealed it was a piece of work under Shane Kelly earlier this year that indicated his ability.
“We started working him in the spring and I was happy with his initial work, then Shane rode a piece of work on Racecourse Side and got off and said he was a Guineas horse.
“He’s got a great cruising speed, he can kick, and I think it’ll take a mighty good one to beat him.
“I’d like a rematch with George Washington, I look forward to it.
“There are the obvious races for him now like the Sussex Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II, Prix du Moulin and even the Breeders’ Cup but it would be nice to see him go on and take on the older horses.”
Munro, whose last Royal success came on Face North in the 1994 Hunt Cup, said: “He’s a mile champion now and that’s fantastic.
“He’s very uncomplicated and that’s brilliant for the rider.
“He leaves the gate fast, he travels strongly and he’s got a good turn of foot.
“He doesn’t hesitate when he takes the lead – he’s a very responsive horse and is very willing – and it’s great to be on these sort of horses.”
Nicolas Clement, trainer of the runner-up, said: “We had a lot of distance to cover and he made up a lot of ground.
“He was too keen last time in the (French) Guineas and he was too cool today - we’ll get it right next time hopefully.
“We’ll give him a rest and then maybe train him for the Prix du Moulin and Queen Elizabeth II, or we might stretch him a furlong the way he ran here.
“We were hoping he could lay up a bit closer but he surprised us. We taught him to relax so much in the morning, he probably over-relaxed.
O’Brien said of his runners: “Ivan ran a good race but the winner did it very well. We will see how he is after this but I have no plans at the moment. I was very happy with how Marcus Andronicus did as well.”
