Darkness Falls 'very exciting' after Golden Fleece success

Darkness Falls was impressive up in trip and markedly up in class when dominating the finish of the Group 1 HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes over nine furlongs in Leopardstown.

Aidan O'Brien's charge began his career with a third place in a maiden at this track before scoring by seven lengths in a Curragh maiden over a mile.

He went off even-money favourite for this assignment and was on good terms with himself in fifth racing to the final quarter of a mile.

Ryan Moore fanned him wide into the straight and soon asked him for more. The Camelot colt kept finding and took over with just over a furlong to go.

He was notably strong in the closing stages as he went on by a ready four-and-a-quarter-lengths from a keeping-on Jesus Green (12/1). Quest For Stars (15/2) was just under three lengths back in third.

Moore said: "He was very impressive at the Curragh a couple of weeks ago.

"He does everything right.

"He jumped quickly and travelled very comfortably. We went a good pace early and he was always travelling very easily.

"It is only his third start and he had a look at the road when we were out wide, so he knows where home is, but he is a very straightforward horse.

"Loved him."

O'Brien added: “He had a lovely run around here in a maiden and then was very impressive the last day.

“Obviously, he's by Camelot which makes him extra special.

“Ryan said the trip is going to be no problem, a mile and he's going to get a mile-and-a-quarter next year. He's just has a lot of class.

“It's an unbelievable race to have on here at this time. It's a lovely first running of it. It's going to be a very important race and all the good horses were there, all the good type middle-distance horses.

“I was very impressed and delighted with him.

“It'll be hard for a classier Derby-type horse to come out than this, the way he did it the last day and they way he did that today.

“It was a proper gallop, there was nowhere to hide out there. Ryan eased out with him and he quickened up very well.

“He has a lovely nature, which makes him really special. He's very exciting.

“He's out of a No Nay Never mare so there is a lot of speed in there but he has the class. I'm delighted to have him.

“I think he can go anywhere he wants. You can go to America with him at the end if you want, he's that type of horse.

“He's not going to need soft ground this horse, good fast ground.

“He's a Camelot that we thought was going to be a Guineas horse plus and that's the way his dad was.”

Paddy Power slashed Darkness Falls from 20/1 to 7/1 for the Derby.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson