Nephrite enters Guineas picture

ON a day when reigning champion Pat Smullen completed a superb treble to keep his title ambitions alive, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Nephrite defeated the highly regarded, odds-on favourite Born To Sea in the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday.

The Ballydoyle colt, impressive on his debut at the Curragh, tracked the favourite before quickening well to win readily by a length and a half and is now 10/1 (from 20) with Paddy Power for next year’s English 2,000 Guineas.

After the winner’s stable companion Vault and Ishvana guaranteed a strong pace, Johnny Murtagh angled out to challenge on Born To Sea early in the straight. But, just as the Invincible Spirit colt launched his effort Nephrite, confidently ridden by Joseph O’Brien, loomed large before asserting in the last hundred yards.