Champion-elect back on song Johannesburg looked Europe`s champion two-year-old colt elect as he cruised home in the Middle Park Stakes to ensure normal service resumed for Aidan O`Brien at Newmarket today. He is now set to take on the best America has to offer after adding a British Group One triumph to wins at the top level in Ireland and France. His Irish-based trainer had suffered a rare blank day on Tuesday, when well-fancied juveniles Black Sam Bellamy, Landseer and Sophisticat were all beaten on the first day of the Cambridgeshire meeting. But Johannesburg never looked likely to let down those who backed him into 30-100 favourite and in the process almost certainly ensured O`Brien - collecting a 17th Group One win of the year - will be the first overseas trainer to land the British championship since 1977. The colt who had lifted the Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown and the Prix Morny at Deauville previously was always travelling sweetly behind pace-making stable-companion Line Rider. He was eased to the front over a furlong out by Mick Kinane and soon burst well clear, passing the post three lengths ahead of runner-up Zipping (6-1), with 50-1 shot Doc Holliday the same distance back in third. O`Brien, who also took the six-furlong contest with Minardi last year, is now eyeing the Breeders` Cup Juvenile on dirt at Belmont Park three weeks on Saturday for the colt - who was one of his 25 acceptors for the Dewhurst Stakes earlier this week. 'We thought from a long way back he could be a Juvenile horse and we have good few others for the Dewhurst,' the trainer said. 'He has a dirt pedigree so we hope that won`t be a problem - you can never be sure but I hope he`d handle the surface. 'He is a very smart horse, he is very fast and he quickens really well.' Kinane added: 'He is very talented and he hasn`t been stretched yet. He has a great temperament and great pace - he`s an exceptional horse.' O`Brien played down fears that it will be hard to keep Johannesburg on song after a long campaign which saw him launch his career with victory in a maiden at Fairyhouse back in May. 'He is a very forward, mature horse and very easy to train and that makes it much easier,' he said. Johannesburg is quoted at 5-1 for the Juvenile by Coral Eurobet, who make him 6-1 joint second favourite for next year`s 2000 Guineas back at Newmarket along with National Stakes-winning stable-companion Hawk Wing. His stamina for the Classic one-mile trip and scope for further improvement have both been questioned but O`Brien said: 'Michael said seven furlongs would not have been a problem today and if he gets seven furlongs this year we have to be very hopeful for a mile next year. 'And he has plenty of length and scope and he will make a three-year-old. 'Hawk Wing and Johannesburg are two super horses and I hope we can get them both here next May and find out then who is the better. We have to get them both through the winter and I couldn`t say who would be best in six months` time.' Johannesburg shares Guineas favouritism with the Tote (5-1) and William Hill (6-1), but is a point behind 5-1 market leader Hawk Wing with Ladbrokes. Today`s #87,000 first prize put O`Brien around #900,000 clear at the top of the trainers` table and he admitted clinching the title would be a tremendous result for his stable. 'It would be great for everone at Ballydoyle,' he said. 'Everyone works so hard every day and it would be great satisfaction for everyone - I am just a small part of the team.' Zipping had also chased Johannesburg home in the Morny and his trainer Robert Collet said of his colt: 'He ran a good race but the winner is better - there is no excuse.' O`Brien had boosted his lead when Beckett initiated a 13-1 double for him and Kinane by making all in the Unicoin Homes Joel Stakes. And the winner could no bid for an even bigger prize back at Newmarket later this month. 'The plan had been to look to the Champion Stakes as we`d missed the first part of the year with him,' his trainer said. 'He gets a mile really well and he doesn`t mind being in front.' Doc Holiday`s trainer Brian Meehan capped a good day when fellow long-shot Indian Prince sprang a 33-1 surprise in the JRA Nakayama Rous Stakes. But Meehan was quick to share the credit with jockey Brett Doyle and said: 'Brett gave him a monumental ride.'
