Cracksman impresses under Frankie Dettori© Photo Healy Racing
Cracksman finally came of age on the big stage after taking his rivals apart in devastating fashion in the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
Five years after his mighty sire Frankel claimed victory in the Juddmonte International, it was the turn of one of his sons to produce the fireworks on the Knavesmire when putting in a display that was visually out of the top drawer in the Group Two event.
Although having to be nudged along by Frankie Dettori entering the home straight, the John Gosden-trained three-year-old quickly put the race to bed when hitting the front.
Sent on well over three furlongs out in the mile-and-a-half affair, the 4-6 favourite, who was last seen finishing second in the Irish Derby having been third in the Epsom version, quickly turned the race into a procession.
He eventually coasted home an eased-down six-length winner from Venice Beach.
Dettori said: "He has come on a lot. He put up a good performance there because I asked him early enough to get into top gear and stretch them out. The last two furlongs he was galloping right away from the field and I was very impressed.
"He is laid back and you have got to shake him up a bit, otherwise he is happy to follow the others, that's why I got him going plenty early enough. Once he knows it's time to go, he goes.
"We had to get him ready for the Derby. He is such a big horse with a big frame to fill. John gave him the time off to improve and he will be a force to be reckoned with next year."
Gosden said: "He won't go for the Leger. We've never thought of going that route. He may run again this year, but the main focus is next year which is what it's about with the King George and those races.
"He was only a shell of a horse earlier in the season. Ascot (Champion Stakes) and the Arc are the only two possibilities this year. And they are only possibilities, not probabilities.
"He's got more stronger and positive in himself. He ran brave races in the Epsom and Irish Derbys, but he's getting better all the time."
Proud owner Anthony Oppenheimer joined Gosden in sounding a cautious note on the prospect of another outing this year.
He said: "He needed this really, to give him confidence. He's so much stronger than he was in the Derbys.
"I thought he'd be in the first four at Epsom, it's a pity he wasn't the same strength then as he is today, but never mind. He will make a marvellous four-year-old.
"I'm inclined not to run him again this year, he certainly won't go in the St Leger or anything like that, as we have taken him out. It depends on the trainer, if he gets very full of himself we might have to run him.
"But I think we'd rather like to take him into next year and aim for the King George and the Arc, if we're lucky."
